New store move warmly welcomed

The new store which was discussed at the Planning Committee meeting last week will be located at the site of the former MFI building and will be in addition to Next’s portfolio of stores in the Lisburn area.

Alderman Tinsley said: “The Next superstore site will incorporate clothing, footwear and home furnishings. It will have ample parking facilities, and as the store will be some 8,000 square feet in size we are delighted that a total of 140 full and part-time jobs, including four apprenticeship roles, will be created.

“The Council’s support of the city’s growth and development hand in hand with employment opportunities is a necessity and a responsibility as the Chairman of the Planning Committee that I take very seriously, particularly given the current position regarding the John Lewis development and recent views on that subject.”

“The Sprucefield site is a very popular location and our objective is to build on its established success,” he said.

“I have no doubt that Next will be extremely successful with its new store and given that the firm is continuing to invest and expand into Northern Ireland and now has more than 20 stores in the Province, I would like to wish the company the very best success and I look forward to hearing first-hand how plans are progressing.”