CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AT GLENWHIRRY NEWTOWNABBEY

Tender description

The Glendun and Glenwhirry Court apartments were constructed between 1985 - 1994 over two, 0.4 acre sites on the Glenville Road, Newtownabbey. The scheme consists of six existing blocks, three on each site. The buildings are arranged in a ‘U’ shape around a central parking and communal amenity area. The units were formerly occupied as student accommodation for University of Ulster, Jordanstown, these are now vacant. Internally, five of the apartment blocks are arranged to provide 6 units within each block consisting of 2 no. 5 bed ground floor and 4 no. 5 bed duplex own door apartments. The sixth block consists of 1 no. 5 bed ground floor, 4 no. 5 bed duplex own door apartments and 1 no. caretakers office/ store room. Some of the apartments within the development have been stripped out in anticipation of refurbishment being undertaken. The land on which the buildings are located is generally flat and accessed from Glendun Court. The boundaries are defined by 2 metre high hedging and masonry walls. The area surrounding the site is mainly residential in character with a variety of scales and house type. There is no one predominant architectural style recognisable in the locality. There are a range of amenities available in the immediate vicinity including Glen Park, Three Mile Water Conservation Park, Burnfield House Golf Course, schools, restaurants, churches and public transport. The site is 5 minutes from Carrickfergus and convenient for M2. Clanmil expect to achieve approximately 53 units across the two sites with a mix of 1 and 2 bed general needs apartments and 2 bed Cat 1 apartments, however, the exact mix will be determined through this competition. Interesting design solutions are sought to allow for the retention and reuse of the existing structure and facilitate the introduction of lift cores and circulation for access to upper floor flats.