British retail giant John Lewis was given the green light today to build a controversial superstore which will create up to 1,000 jobs.
The North's Environment Minister Lord Rooker ignored objections from traders' organisations in the city centres of Belfast and Lisburn, Co Antrim, and granted the chain planning permission for an out-of-town store at the Sprucefield retail development on the outskirts of Lisburn.
Warnings of the destruction of Belfast as the retail centre of Northern Ireland have been made, along with threats to challenge a go-ahead in the courts.
But Lord Rooker said: "I am convinced that a decision to approve is in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland . There are very positive economic and social benefits associated with this proposal in the overall public interest."
He said John Lewis was a major name in retailing and its entry into the Northern Ireland retail sector represented a further choice for the consumer and complemented what was on offer elsewhere.
He said it would also act as a "magnet" to draw in other retailers who have previously ignored the province.
Nearly a year has passed since John Lewis sought planning approval for a 220,000 sq ft store creating around 1,000 full and part-time jobs.
It will be the anchor tenant on a 460,000 sq ft, £150 million Stg expansion at Sprucefield which will provide retail space for 29 other stores.
The site already has a large Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury, B&Q and Currys.