Dislocation-free and strain-free GaN nanopillars, grown on Si by molecular beam epitaxy, were used as nanoseeds for a new form of epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO) by metalorganic vapour phase epitaxy (MOVPE) until full coalescence. Such overgrown GaN films are almost relaxed and were used as templates for producing thick GaN layers by halide vapour phase epitaxy (HVPE). The final GaN film is easily separated from the starting Si substrate. This is henceforth a new technology to produce freestanding GaN. The GaN crystal quality was assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photo- and cathodoluminescence (PL, CL). It was seen that the pillar-ELO is produced from a limited number of nanopillars. Some dislocations and basal stacking faults are formed during the coalescence. However, those that propagate parallel to the substrate do not replicate in the top layer and it is expected that the thickened material present a reduced defect density. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.