The plans, which envisage a department store of a similar size to that proposed for the Sprucefield site stretches along new, high specification elevations on Bow Street and Antrim Street. The total job numbers for the extended Bow Street will also be similar to that proposed at Sprucefield - 500 during construction, and over 2,000 employees on site after completion bringing the total investment value of Bow Street to £180m.

The joint-owner of Bow Street Mall has, today, described the proposal as a fantastic new opportunity for Lisburn. Michael Herbert said: “We’ve invested considerable time and resources in the preparation of this application to ensure that everything on offer at the out-of-town Sprucefield site can be accommodated in Lisburn City Centre. These plans will create 1000 new jobs on completion and see another £60m invested in Lisburn City Centre.

“More than two years ago, the John Lewis Partnership said it would look to the Republic of Ireland if it didn’t get planning at Sprucefield. It has now announced its intention to open in Dublin and yet it says it still wants to come to Sprucefleld. We believe that if the flexibility and willingness exists to open at least two stores on the island, then with support from everybody in Lisburn, the John Lewis Partnership can come the extra few miles into our city centre. Lisburn needs to have confidence in itself and our politicians need to become persuaders for the city centre.

“Lisburn City Centre has so much to offer and we shouldn’t be settling for a sub-optimal solution at Sprucefield. Our proposal can bring proper regenerative benefits to the city centre and still give the department store owner broadly the same shopping catchment and opportunity as exists at Sprucefield.

“And while our target is the John Lewis Partnership because it has said it wants to come to Northern Ireland; we will also be targeting other major retailers at home and abroad and indeed we have already spoken directly to one other UK retailer as well as making contact with the John Lewis Partnership.” Michael Herbert said.

Along with the proposed 260,000 sq ft department store, other key elements will include an additional 540 car parking spaces and 30 new retail units all integrated into the existing Bow Street Mall. Also proposed is a major new access point for the shopping centre and environmentally-friendly transport initiatives are included to reduce traffic pressures currently experienced on Antrim Street and elsewhere in the vicinity of the city centre. This will include a new feeder underpass that will have direct access to the car park at Bow Street.

“This is a genuine plan to transform Lisburn city centre into a prime retail destination by securing a major department store. Lisburn has the opportunity to make that transformation and Bow Street Mall stands ready to make the investment required to make that happen,” Michael Herbert added.

Paul Gillespie of Bryson Architects, the designers of the new scheme said: “The new development provides a great opportunity to revitalise this part of Lisburn city centre. It creates a new focal point entrance directly at the end of the pedestrianised Bow Street which will help to integrate the mall into the centre of Lisburn. The new mall starts at this new corner entrance and continues internally to link up both ends of the existing mall in a loop arrangement.

“Further linkages are provided at first floor gallery level back to the existing foodcourt, and a major atrium core containing feature lifts and escalators rises up though all retail levels to the roof car park above. Externally the development provides live shop frontages on all sides which is made possible by providing a basement service area. This will take away all on-street servicing and together with the improvement to the road alignment will help to make Bow Street and Antrim Street more pedestrian friendly.”