A Newtownabbey shopping centre is expected to get a major facelift after local councillors agreed to sell a section of land to assist the project.

It is understood the multi-million pound proposal for the Abbeycentre will involve the demolition of part of the complex to make way for a new development of retail units and a multi-storey car park.

Local councillors have given the go-ahead for improvement works at the Longstone Road/Shore Road junction, which would be vital for the re-development of the project.

-- Advertisement --

Planning approval has been pending since 2005, while an amended planning application was submitted earlier in the year.

Managing agents for the Abbeycentre, BTW Shiells requested to purchase a strip of council land on the Shore Road, opposite Merville Garden Village, to allow for road widening work to be carried out.

Certain conditions have been placed by the council which include planning approval being granted and the developers repairing any damage caused to the adjoining council land during the works.

The cost of the re-development is expected to cost around £10 million and will include the creation of 86,000 sq ft of new retail space and 300 car parking spaces.

(JM)