Your Glengormley

 20 September 2023

Press Release

Go Ahead for Glengormley Enhancements

An application by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council for major improvement works to Glengormley town centre has been approved by the Council’s Planning Committee (subject to call-in period). The project will feature upgraded footpaths, tree planting, new railings/ walls, street furniture, improvements to pedestrian crossings and parking areas.

It will be delivered by the Council in association with the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and the Department for Communities (DfC).

The works, due to commence in spring /summer 2024, will bring a  £6.5m investment to the town centre and will further enhance an ongoing regeneration programme currently underway in Glengormley. These include a new right turn lane, improved shopfronts and plans for a state of the art office hub on the site of the former police station.

Approval was granted by the Council within six months of the application being made.

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Councillor Mark Cooper BEM said:

“This ambitious public realm scheme is an important part of the Council’s strategy to regenerate our towns and communities. It will support investment as well as economic development, and is an exciting development for the area.

“We’re committed to making our town centres more visually attractive and appealing for visitors and residents alike. This far-reaching scheme is a great example of this work.”

Chairman of the Planning Committee Councillor Robert Foster added:

“These enhancements will be an asset to a busy hub at the heart of the community in Glengormley and will complement the ongoing works already under way to enhance the area.”

Previous Updates:

£30m Glengormley Regeneration Projects Gathers Pace

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Ongoing work to transform and revitalise Glengormley town centre is progressing well, following an investment of almost £30m. The overall Glengormley regeneration project which has been supported by the UK Levelling Up Fund, the Department for Infrastructure, the Department for Communities along with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council will welcome a total investment of £14 million.  The project has also ignited a wave of investment from the private sector, generating an additional £15 million of investment for the town.

Contractors are now on-site at Glenwell Road, installing new modern shopfronts from Creative Tiles to the Movie House Cinema. All businesses are operating as normal with the work due for completion towards the end of January.

As the project progresses through 2023, Farmley car park will welcome a major upgrade and consideration is being given to a new one-way system from Farmley Road to Glenwell Road. As part of this upgrade and to help with traffic flow in the area, a new right-hand turning lane will also be introduced at the junction of the Antrim Road and Glenwell Road.

Meanwhile, the redevelopment of the former police station site is also continuing, with plans to create a 14,000 sq ft workspace hub. The site has already undergone extensive improvements, with the creation of an open space allowing us to host a number of community events, including a Halloween family fun day. Further activities are scheduled to take place in this community space including a market towards the end of January. The market is open to local businesses to become involved and showcase their products, we will be in touch soon for expressions of interest.

Elsewhere in the town, we are looking ahead to the planned public realm scheme, which will include new pavements, street furniture, lighting and increased public pedestrian space. Further updates on this scheme will be made available soon.

1. The work will involve 3 key improvements to Glengormley Town Centre:
   1. Re-Development of former Police Station site as a modern workspace hub
   2. Façade improvements at the Glenwell Road commercial Units (from Creative Tiles up to the Movie House) and enhanced transportation links
   3. A transformative Public Realm Scheme improving the public spaces between shops and buildings along the main thoroughfare.

We are committed to the regeneration of Glengormley, making it a vibrant town centre with modern flexible workspaces, improved pedestrian and vehicle connections and enhanced public realm, creating a more attractive place to work, visit, socialise and live.

The planned investment is supported by the Department for Communities, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Department of Infrastructure and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.

1. These projects will start at different stages:
   1. Dedicated right hand turn lane to start February 2023 - Completed September 2023
   2. Glenwell Commerical Units to start in October 2022 - Completed February 2023
   3. Regenerating the former Police Station Site to start in March 2024 and completion in Summer 2025
   4. Farmley Car Park improvements to start in Summer 2024.  Completion date TBC.
   5. Enhanced footways, public spaces and street furniture to start in late 2023 and completion in late 2024

Yes shops will be open as normal throughout the project

Please email yourglengormley@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk and a member of the team will get back to you.  If you would like to speak to someone, please include your telephone number and the nature of your enquiry and a member of the team will call you back.  Please note, emails will only be monitored Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Public Realm is described as the public spaces between shops and buildings, and forms the places we use most.  We will be investing in new pavements, street furniture, lighting and increased pedestrian space throughout the commercial centre of the town.

1. The work will involve 3 key improvements to Glengormley Town Centre:
   1. Re-Development of former Police Station site as a modern workspace hub
   2. Façade improvements and enhanced transportation links
   3. A transformative Public Realm Scheme improving the public spaces between shops and buildings.

We will attempt to keep any disruption to a minimum.  If we have to divert deliveries / vehicle access, we will install signage and post updates on our website and via our social media channels @ANBorough.  We will also continue to work closely with local businesses who can update customers via their own channels as well.

We will attempt to keep any disruption to a minimum.  Directional signage will be in place if we need to implement any temporary diversions.  We will provide alternative routes if necessary and we will post updates on our website and via our social media channels @ANBorough.  We will also continue to work closely with local businesses who can update customers via their own channels as well.  Contractors will appoint liaison officers whose contact details will be provided when works commence.

The project will not prevent shoppers and visitors coming into the town centre.  All updates / diversions / alternative routes will be posted on our social channels @ANBorough and our website.  All Businesses will continue to operate as normal.

Each project will be delivered by contractor teams appointed through separate recruitment processes

We will post updates on our website and continually update this list of FAQ’s.  Updates will also be posted via our social media channels @ANBorough.  We will also continue to work closely with local businesses who can update customers via their own channels as well.

There has been an issue in the past with drivers parking on pavements around the Glenwell shop areas.  This has caused problems for people with mobility aids and for prams.  As part of the project, we plan to raise the footpaths in this area to prevent people parking there, making Glengormley town centre more accessible for all our residents, visitors and workers. Double yellow lines have been introduced recently at the junction of Glenwell Road with Antrim Road.

Planning Permission has been obtained for all aspects for the Glengormley Regeneration project.

Click here for full information on the Planning approvals.