Glengormley business owners and residents to have say on £10m redevelopment plan

The local authority’s Greater Glenwell Road Area Concept Plan will go out to public consultation next month.

The plan, drawn up for the council by consultants AECOM, could see the long-term redevelopment of the area from Glenwell Road to Farmley car park, to include a variety of new leisure attractions and restaurants.

At their December Development Committee meeting, local councillors were informed that the scheme could cost around £10million and would require significant buy-in from government departments, land/business owners and private sector investors.

Redevelopment of the disused police station site would also be a key aspect of the project. And the council has already expressed an interest in acquiring the property, valued at £185,000, from the PSNI.

A report presented to the Development Committee on Monday night (January 19) revealed that a consultation exercise will commence in February.

“Display boards will be erected at Mossley Mill and Tesco Northcott to raise awareness of the plan and feedback forms will be available at each location,” the report stated.

“Correspondence will be sent to tenants and landlords in the Glenwell Road area as well as businesses, community groups and schools in the wider Glengormley area, inviting them to a public consultation event on the plan. The event will be advertised in the local press and on social media. An online survey will also be available for those unable to attend the consultation event.”

Noting the report, Cllr Mark Cosgrove again welcomed the concept plan as “potentially a fantastic opportunity” for Glengormley and said he hopes people will get involved in the consultation process.

Having spoken to a prominent member of the local business community about the redevelopment, the UUP man said he’s hopeful that private sector investors will back the project.

“This is potentially a very exciting time for that part of Glengormley,” he added.

Thanking officers for their work on the project to date, DUP Cllr Phillip Brett revealed that there has already been quite a lot of interest in the Glenwell site.

Members agreed with a suggestion from Sinn Fein Cllr Gerry O’Reilly that the consultation should be widened and the plans put on display at other locations around the town such as Tramways, the pavilion and the Barron Hall.

The council’s Director of Development Services, Majella McAlister said that officers would look at the possibility of erecting information boards at other key sites in the town.