A group of architecture and design students from the University of Ulster (UUJ) have been commissioned by Newtownabbey Town Centre Management Company to redesign Glengormley town centre.

The 20 masters students are to lend their expertise to the 'Glengormley 2012' consultation and design partnership project.

They have been asked to assess the town centre demise, looking at street layout, traffic systems and tasked with finding a possible focal point. They have also been asked to look into ways of tackling the growing number of derelict buildings and assess whether commercial regeneration or residential development is more feasible.

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A report on the problematic development of Glengormley was presented to the council's Development Committee last month. It recognised the main detrimental issues as being a lack of sense of 'an actual' town centre, the negative impact of the Antrim Road being a main arterial route into Belfast and the disadvantages of two nearby shopping centres.

Town Centre Manager Desy Clayton said: "There will be an assessment of what they (the students) come up with regarding the feasibility, cost and practicality and so on and hopefully we will find elements that are achievable and that we can apply for funding for."

The student's ideas will be unveiled at an exhibition in Mossley Hill and UUJ next month.

(VB/JM)