£60m golf club to be built in Northern Ireland

A £60 million golf club is to be built in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, and could open as soon as 2019.

The resort, near Hillsborough Castle, which will include a luxury hotel, was first proposed more than a decade ago by developer Wilmar Leisure, will see the development of a championship standard parkland golf course and houses.

The original plan was to build self-catering holiday homes but the developer has changed that proposal and now wants to build permanent residential homes, arguing that the sale of those houses will make the project more economically viable.

It has been given planning approval by the relevant local authority.

Hillsborough Castle

“We will finally see a much needed luxury hotel and a championship standard parkland golf course with top class leisure facilities attached, hopefully ready for use by 2019,” said Lagan Valley Alliance MLA Trevor Lunn.

“This clears the way for an investment of around £60 million into our city area.

“The benefits in terms of jobs, training opportunities, tourism and rates income will be huge and the proposal has been given a very warm welcome by businesses and interested parties across Lagan Valley and beyond.

“When finished, this resort, along with Down Royal racecourse, Hillsborough Castle and eventually Maze development, together with many other local facilities, will move Lisburn forward dramatically as a tourism and business destination.”

DUP MLA Edwin Poots added: “Conservative estimates are that it will bring 150 new jobs for the area.”

“This will bring a major five star resort to Hillsborough and hopefully encourage many people to come and stay in the village.

“A lot of people do visit Hillsborough but with this resort they will be able to stay for a few days rather than just a few hours.”

An ITV news report interviewed local residents who were broadly in favour of the plan, although one said he was opposed to it as there was globally a decline in golf participation.