Lisburn hotel brings promise of 200 jobs
A NEW hotel could be open in Lisburn by late next year – bringing around 200 jobs to the city – after planning approval was granted yesterday by Environment Minister Alex Attwood.
The purpose-built 100-room hotel is set to feature a health suite and function rooms and follows an earlier application first lodged in 2006 that could have made the £9.5-10 million project the first hotel for the city.
That honour went to the Premier Inn group which opened in the city in 2009, but yesterday developer Peter Cleland said there had been a great deal of interest in his company’s site on the Hillsborough Road.
“It is superb news that permission has finally been given to approve this quality hotel development,” he said.
“We have been working on the basis that we wanted to get the thing over the line. We didn’t want to get investors in until this point but we have been speaking to a couple of international brands who are very keen to get involved in the scheme.
“Given the fact that Lisburn is undersupplied with hotels at the moment we are delighted that we’ve got it and are now able to progress.”
Trading as Arborhill Ltd, which owns the site, Mr Cleland runs the business with his father Ken. The firm has also been working on office and commercial developments in Belfast and Peter Cleland said they hoped work could now start on the hotel as soon as possible.
“We have been in talks with some leading brands and we will be focusing those talks now and hopefully within the next few months we’ll be able to start work.”
Designed by local architect William Shannon, the hotel could be open by late 2013, helping to fulfil the role envisaged by Mr Attwood.
“This is great news for Lisburn given the economic and social benefits it will bring to the city, including up to 200 new jobs,” he said.
“It will enhance the range of tourist accommodation in the area and boost visitor numbers to the benefit of local shops, restaurants and businesses. What I and DoE are about is creating a better, place to live, work and invest.”
The development will also provide new and enhanced access arrangements to the River Lagan towpath and a new interpretative centre which will provide information about the Lagan Valley Regional Park.
Praising the team behind the project, Mr Cleland also thanked the city council and the community for their support throughout the process and said the development would become an asset to the city in economic and social terms.
“This plan opens up the Lagan Valley Regional Park in a new way and we have specifically designed the scheme with disability access to the Lagan towpath,” he said.
“This now allows wheelchair users and families with prams an opportunity to enjoy the riverside walkway that was not previously available.
“Additionally we would like to thank the local business community and local residents who came out in force to support the hotel with their thousands of support letters.”
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
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Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
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