A Change of Use has been Proposed for Glengormley Bank

A planning application has been submitted to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, which is just north of Belfast. The plans are to convert a former bank into a usable bingo hall. The proposal is directly related to the First Trust Bank, which has been vacant since the mass shutdowns, which were triggered by AIB. The site is now being considered for leisure, with one applicant hoping to bring bingo back.

Bingo Is Making a Strong Comeback

Current data shows that bingo is making a strong comeback. Industry data shows that traditional bingo reached a GGY yield of £628.1 million in March 2024, which was a 5.6% increase when compared to the year before. As 800,000 people attend Bingo every week, it shows how much continued relevance there is in today’s market.

The online sector has helped to spur the return of traditional bingo as well. Active accounts are now 24.1% higher than prior to 2024, and more and more games are being released to try to keep up with demand. Now, when users play bingo online, choices can range from Deal or No Deal Bingo to Mystic Meg and Turbo Bingo, showing how much things have changed over the years. As the global bingo market is worth $2 billion, the proposal to bring a bingo hall back to the high street is strong.

The Application Is One of Several Being Considered

Whether the bingo hall is going to be approved is yet to be seen. The bingo application is one of several being considered right now, with other proposals including a possible restaurant or an office conversion. A separate application is being considered to transform a Danske Bank branch into a car wash.

Local decision makers now have to weigh up what’s going to benefit the town centre the most, taking into account community use, transport, and foot traffic. If the proposal is put forward and is approved, the new bingo hall could bring new footfall into the city, and it could also contribute to evening entertainment.

As the venue has been used for commercial purposes before, converting it wouldn’t be laborious, and it could also offer a social venue, which would trigger even more activity across the city centre. There are however, concerns that transport routes need to be met, which were raised by Dfl Roads. Visibility on a bus route might be problematic if the venue was converted for leisure purposes, but with that said, the council is currently looking over everything to try and determine if the proposal is going to align with the planning policy and the demands that are currently in place.

The result of the planning application is set to be announced soon, but it seems that there’s a lot of competition for the space, and the result is going to come down to what’s going to benefit the community most at this moment in time. As the area is lacking leisure spaces, it’s hoped that the bingo hall will go ahead to provide another reason for people to visit the area.