Tesco's planned demolition and rebuilding of the aged Northcott Shopping Centre in Glengormley - that was expected to be finished by Christmas 2012 - is now facing a delay of between 18 months and two years.

Staff in other stores in the tatty shopping mall on the Ballyclare Road have been told they are staying put for now.

They had been expecting to be closed down in advance of the wreckers' ball later this summer, and instead have been given no date for closure.

A Tesco spokeswoman responded to a Sunday Life inquiry this week and said: "We are delighted to have received planning approval for this scheme but while this is a very significant first step, there are a number of processes for the developer and ourselves which will have to be gone through before construction on the new shopping centre can start.

"This is usual for any large construction project and includes clearing the site, tendering for services and detailed site surveys and analysis."

However, as anticipated by local workers, she confirmed: "At present we have no exact timescale for work beginning, but once we have made further progress we will certainly let the public know."

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The proposed complete redevelopment of Northcott Shopping Centre in Newtownabbey - by Blanca Developments - was given the go-ahead months ago through the fast-stream Planning Service's Pre-Application Discussion (PADs) system.

Last December, NI Environment Minister, Edwin Poots granted the £35m regeneration plan: "The proposal represents a high quality modern development for the area, replacing the current centre which, although of its time, is now somewhat run down and in need of redress," he said.

Meanwhile an independent grocery wholesaler is already using some of its recession-beating profits to expand - and stimulate the beleaguered construction sector at the same time.

Co Antrim's Henderson Group will this year invest £33m in expansion and refurbishment plans to drive future growth.

Building work is now undertaken in several locations including the Spar/BP forecourt site - also in Glengormley - which has just demolished to make way for an expanded state-of-the art facility, which is due to open before Christmas.

Another £14m will be invested in new warehousing and office accommodation for Henderson Foodservice at the main Mallusk site. Pattons have been appointed contractors for the project.

Patrick Doody, Sales and Marketing Director, Henderson Wholesale, said that Henderson Group hadjust delivered another strong set of results.

Commenting after the supermarket firm's announcement last week of turnover of £500m - despite tough trading conditions, he said that while Tesco is expanding aggressively, competition is "healthy" and that the fight has been joined with major work at the company-owned Spar forecourt at Glenwell Road in Glengormley.

Providing another boost for the local construction industry, he revealed: "We have knocked it down and will now rebuild it in an investment of almost £2m, for re-opening this winter," he said.

(BMcC/GK)