Swedish furniture giant Ikea's first store in Ireland was given planning permission yesterday.
Northern Secretary Peter Hain announced that the 29,000 sq m store can go ahead at Holywood Exchange on the outskirts of east Belfast.
The investment will create more than 400 full-time jobs, with another 100 "out-sourced services" jobs to follow.
The store will be built on a 14.5-acre site just past George Best Belfast City Airport, and will be linked by dual-carriageway to both of Northern Ireland's motorways. It will incorporate a showroom, market hall and warehouse, as well as a 500-seat restaurant, creche, staff facilities, children's outdoor play area and customer services facilities.
Like the planned Dublin outlet, it will be "full size and full range", carrying 9,500 products and more than 55 fully furnished layouts. The company said it planned to have the full product range in stock within the on-site warehouse so that customers do not have to make repeat visits or wait weeks for delivery. "This is great news for Northern Ireland," said Mr Hain. "Ikea is a global company and a highly-prized international name in retailing, and its entry into the Northern Ireland market proves once again we can attract the biggest and the best."
Ikea's Theresa Daly said the store should be open by November. "This time next year we should be looking at a 29,000 sq m store and we are extremely excited about it." Ikea's planned investment near Ballymun in north Dublin will be on a slightly smaller scale.