Planning permission has been sought for a £100m regeneration of Hilden Mill, Lisburn.

If approved the scheme created by Hilden Developments (NI), an associate company of London-based developer Galliard, will see the former Coats Barbour textiles factory being transformed into 605 apartments of various shapes and sizes, 15,000 sq ft of light industry units and 17,000 sq ft of offices

A museum focusing on the history of the linen industry along with a riverside bar/restaurant, a gym, crèche, café and tourist-related retail space is also planned.

In addition community meeting rooms will be created and restoration/replacement of canal and river bridges will commence. Around 150 jobs will be generated.

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Michael Watson of Galliard Homes said it was delighted to be involved in bringing "such a ground-breaking regeneration scheme" to Lisburn.

"When we took ownership of the old Hilden Mill complex we identified that there was incredible potential in the scheme that could be realised for the greater Lisburn area."

The mill has strong historic ties to Lisburn's linen industry. At one time well over 1,000 were employed at the site, which dates back nearly 200 years.

Galliard said it is keen to improve amenities and restore listed buildings at the site. The River Lagan on the eastern side of Lisburn will be opened up for wider public use.

Lisburn City Council, architects Consarc Conservation and Ulster planning specialists Turley Associates will also be involved in the scheme.

Dawson Stelfox, senior architect with Consarc, said the regeneration would combine authentic restoration of the listed mill buildings with contemporary architecture to create a new urban mixed use village at Hilden.

Lisburn mayor James Tinsley said the redevelopment will assist the council in realising the vision for Lisburn's Lagan Corridor together with the regeneration of Hilden village and the re-opening of the Lagan Canal.

(GK/SP)