Council close to finalising purchase of Glengormley Police Station

The final cost of the Glenwell Road property, including stamp duty, is expected to be £186,850.

As one of their last acts at their final meeting on Monday night (March 30), members of Newtownabbey Borough Council noted a report on the issue.

The project, which will now be taken on by the new Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, could see the long-term redevelopment of the area between Glenwell Road and Farmley.

The £10m plan to create “a unique leisure hub” at the site would require significant buy-in from government departments, local land/business owners and private sector investors.

Speaking at Monday’s meeting, Cllrs Phillip Brett and Mark Cosgrove welcomed the confirmation that the purchase process is nearing completion.

Cllr Brett thanked all those who have supported the regeneration plan and highlighted the success of a recent stakeholder meeting in the Barron Hall during which, he said, there had been “good buy-in” from local residents and business owners.

Cllr Cosgrove described the purchase of the former barracks as “a very important part in the jigsaw of regeneration.”

“I’m sure this will be a tremendous asset - not the police station itself, but the land it is on - in terms of the future redevelopment of that part of Glengormley,” he added.

Glengormley Police Station was closed to the public in June 2012 as part of a PSNI cost-cutting exercise.

The NI Housing Executive had also shown an interest in purchasing the site for social housing.