Lidl has confirmed that they have purchased a site in Carryduff and plan to lodge planning in the coming months.
The news comes after planning permission for a new Carryduff Shopping Centre was approved in July by the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.
Following this, there had been local discussion about which company might be the anchor tenant in a new shopping centre.
Today, in a statement shared with Belfast Live, Lidl Northern Ireland have confirmed that they have purchased a site in Carryduff.
Christopher Speers, Regional Property Executive for Lidl Northern Ireland, told us that the company had planned to make an announcement in the coming weeks, but that evidently "good news spreads quickly!"
In a full statement, Christopher Speers said:
“We have had a long standing desire to serve the vibrant and thriving community of Carryduff, and while we had planned to make an announcement regarding the site along with sharing detailed plans in the coming weeks, it appears good news spreads quickly!
"We can confirm that we have purchased a site in Carryduff and plan to lodge planning in the coming months.
"Our new proposed Lidl store will bring significant local investment, the creation of many new jobs as well as incredible quality and value to Carryduff and we hope to gain support from the local community on these plans when we share them in due course.”
Following the announcement, local Councillor Nathan Anderson said: "The news that Lidl have purchased the site is a welcome development. Restoring the beating heart to Carryduff is something that all the residents eagerly wish to see. We look forward to see what their plans are for our community."
