Mayor officially opens new Next store at Sprucefield

The new Next store at Sprucefield was officially opened by Lisburn Mayor Margaret Tolerton and it is proving to be a hit with local shoppers.

The new store is an impressive addition to the popular retail offering in Lisburn. Standing at a gigantic 19,355 sq ft, the store offers its customers a vast array of departments, allowing shoppers to purchase a huge range of Next products on-site.

A Next spokesperson said: “After nine years of planning, we’re thrilled to have opened this new store at the Sprucefield Shopping Park.

“We’ve received really positive feedback from our customers in this area and our decision to expand the Next family in Northern Ireland is definitely a benefit to both the customers and the brand.”

He continued: “We’re also pleased to announce that the new development will generate 84 new jobs in the area, helping to stimulate the local employment market and economy.”

The store’s vast square footage means that a wide variety of products and departments will be open to customers, including new shoe rooms for Women, Men and Childrenswear and an increased petite range.

The store will also house a brand new lingerie area, the first to be installed in Northern Ireland.

Customers will be able to relax in the store’s Ground Espresso Bar, a great place to take a break from shopping or to unwind after a busy day of retail therapy.

Planning permission had been sought for the redevelopment of the former MFI store at Sprucefield, however, the application was held up in the planing system for a number of months.

Late last year the Planning Service had indicated their intention to approve the application for a new store. However, following a last minute objection by the operators of Lisburn Square, which houses another Next store, the application was withdrawn from the schedule. It had been expected to appear before Lisburn City Council’s Planning Committee in January but was again delayed. The store was finally given the green light in February and the company were keen to open the new store as quickly as possible.

The new store will be an addition to Next’s portfolio of stores in the Lisburn area. Next Lisburn town centre, Sprucefield Home and Craigavon Rushmere store would still continue to trade.

This is all part of Next’s continuing programme of investment and expansion in Northern Ireland. Next now has over 20 stores in Northern Ireland, employing over 1,600 people.