A former shopping centre in County Down has began its transformation thanks to the opening of a new £9m Lidl store.

The supermarket giant's impressive concept store represents the first stage in the redevelopment of the former Carryduff Shopping Centre, paving the way for further retail development and revitalisation for the area, with an additional four units and a drive-thru restaurant or coffee shop earmarked for future investment.

It reflects Lidl Northern Ireland’s modern, 'concept' design, featuring a spacious shop floor with wide aisles, long tills, restrooms and baby-changing facilities, an in-store bakery, extensive car-parking and landscaping, providing new and existing Lidl customers with a premium shopping experience.

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Developed with sustainability at the fore, the new Lidl Northern Ireland store also incorporates energy efficient features, including LED lighting, heat pumps and PV solar panels to reduce carbon emissions and support Lidl's ambition to achieving net-zero by 2050.

Construction began in August of last year, with the store unveiled last Friday by Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Kurtis Dickson and Great British Menu chef, Gemma Austin, as elected representatives and members of the Carryduff community joined in attendance.

Commenting on the opening of the store, Ivan Ryan, Lidl Northern Ireland Regional Managing Director, said: "We've been incredibly excited to open our new store in Carryduff, which marks a significant milestone in our growth and expansion plans, as the 43rd Lidl store in Northern Ireland.

"It will also be a game changer for the local community as the first phase in the redevelopment of the former Carryduff Shopping Centre site.

"As we cut the ribbon on our final new store of 2024, we look forward to continuing our growth and investment in Northern Ireland, with more to come in 2025."