Plans for hotel and high rise offices in Lisburn revealed

MAJOR plans by one of Northern Ireland's biggest development companies for apartments, offices, restaurants and a hotel in Lisburn city centre have been revealed this week.

Architects Colin Gibson and Peter Minnis from Todd Architects and developers Killultagh Properties attended a meeting of Lisburn City Council's Planning Committee to unveil the scheme which could see 40,000 sq ft of office space, 80 apartments, 300 car parking spaces and a 150 bedroom four star hotel right in the heart of the city centre at Laganbank Road.

The developers also plan to open up the River Lagan Corridor and include public realm space in the development.

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Mr Minnis explained that the project was in the pre-appliction design phase, which was nearing completion, and they hope to submit a planning application in the coming months.

Mr Minnis also confirmed there were already two hotel operators expressing serious interest in running the hotel on the site and revealed the apartments would be the first tower block in the city centre, standing 15 storeys high.

The proposals were welcomed in principal by Lisburn Councillors, but Councillor Jenny Palmer and Alderman Jim Dillon expressed some concern about the scale of the apartment block and the impact it would have on nearby housing.

However Alderman Jeffrey Donaldson said the new development would bring benefits for the city. "We need to look beyond the horizon for the city," said Mr Donaldson. "We do have an historic city but history and modernity can sit side by side.

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"When you think of a city you think of tall buildings and if Lisburn is to be a city for the 21st century then tall buildings are what would set the city centre apart. We shouldn't be frightened about having tall buildings in the city centre.

"I think we should welcome in principal the development but await further discussions on the detail."

Councillor Margaret Tolerton said she "couldn't wait" to see the development realised and Councillor Paul Givan added: "These proposals are very exciting for Lisburn. I am very pleased to see this coming forward. Ultimately we will want to see this be successful. It is the key to driving forward the city centre."

Councillor Jonathan Craig suggested the office block could become the new home for the city's health centre, while Councillor Andrew Ewing welcomed the idea that the bottom floor of the office block could house new restaurants, which, he said, would help to boost the city's night time economy.

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Councillor Trevor Lunn warmly welcomed the development proposals saying: "I am very much in favour of this scheme. This is a very exciting private sector scheme."

Following the presentation the committee agreed to "welcome the presentation made, note the detail of it, welcome it in principal and look at the planning application when it comes before us."