An Investment that delivers

Invitation to Antrim Newtownabbey

Already regarded as Northern Ireland’s advanced manufacturing and logistics gateway, Antrim Newtownabbey combines a proven track record of investment delivery with a hands-on, can-do approach to enable and support investors. Our investment partnerships, both longstanding and new, are built on trust, innovation, and a relentless drive to unlock the potential for long-term benefits.

With unique ‘dual market’ access to both European and GB markets, alongside significantly lower operating costs and a 70% industrial rates reduction for qualifying manufacturing businesses, our investment proposition is compelling.

Powered by major investments in advanced manufacturing, exciting development opportunites, and unrivalled market and transport access, a new economic success story is taking shape – and you’re invited to join it.

Economic Advantage

A distinct economic advantage sets Antrim Newtownabbey apart – combining investment-ready opportunities with unmatched access to markets, talent, and infrastructure.

Strategic and Competitive Location:

Just minutes from Belfast, offering competitive operating costs (on average 30% less than the rest of the UK) and a 70% reduction in business rates for qualifying manufacturing businesses.

Dual Market Access:

Northern Ireland offers businesses something no other region can - dual market access. This unique proposition gives companies the ability to move goods freely to both Great Britain and European Union markets.

Global Company Presence:

Currently Antrim Newtownabbey features over a fifth of Northern Ireland’s Top 100 companies, as well as many major international companies. We also host growing innovation clusters that create a strong ecosystem for partnerships and supply chains.

Room to Grow:

Today we currently have well in excess of 100 hectares (247 acres) of employment land accessible and available for development. More will be added through our new Local Development Plan, offering a variety of site locations and flexibility for future expansion.

Skilled Workforce & Industry Clusters:

Home to a highly skilled workforce and thriving clusters in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, health & life sciences, and logistics. Strong partnerships with Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University, further education colleges and schools help provide a steady pipeline of highly educated and skilled talent. We are also home to the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), a leading centre for agricultural education, research, and rural skills development.

Leading the Way in Planning:

Recognised as the top performing planning authority in Northern Ireland, including most recently in the 2025 Royal Town Planning Institute awards, consistently exceeding statutory targets. We have put in place a dedicated team to bring forward major economic and infrastructure projects to deliver fast, efficient, and joined-up decision-making, giving investors confidence and certainty from day one.

Excellent Transport Links:

Situated within Northern Ireland’s primary gateway, the location offers direct links to the motorway network and excellent rail connections. The Borough is home to Belfast International Airport, and also lies within easy reach of both Belfast and Larne Harbours. Belfast City Airport is accessible in under 30 minutes, while Dublin Airport in less than two hours away.

Unrivalled Partnership Approach

At Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, we are known for going further and faster to support our investors. In 2015, when planning powers transferred to local government, we deliberately brought Planning, Economic Development and Building Control together under a single Directorate to underpin a genuine partnership approach. This makes investing in Antrim Newtownabbey seamless, straightforward, and focused on your success. It’s one of the reasons we were voted Overall Council of the Year for Service Delivery at the UK-wide 2024 APSE Awards and a finalist in 2025.

Whether you are investing with us for the first time, relocating to the area or seeking to expand your existing business, you can trust us to stand alongside you to tackle challenges, seize opportunities, and turn ideas into results – because when you invest in us, we will invest in you.

Don’t take our word for it – we’re home to many successful companies who can prove it:

“We are really excited to be moving our growing team to our new Factory of the Future building at Global Point in 2026.
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council have been tremendous partners and share our ambition for AMIC to be at the forefront of advanced manufacturing innovation for Northern Ireland. Their support and investment has enabled us to develop state-of-the-art-facilities that are readily accessible for manufacturing companies of all sizes and available for them to develop projects with our teams of skilled engineers. We look forward to catalysing further investment into the region and make it a destination for green, low-carbon manufacturing.”
Sam TurnerCEO of AMIC

"The JAQ Group is an innovative e-commerce fragrance company based in County Antrim, and we have benefitted greatly from the support of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Growth and its investment team.

From our base in County Antrim, we are able to take advantage of our location and bolster our market position due to the proximity to the M2 motorway and major transit routes, enabling us to ship our range of fragrances and products around the world.

We have ambitious plans at The JAQ Group and appreciate the Council’s continued support and guidance as we continue on our growth journey."
Connor MartinJAQ Group founder and Managing Director

"Antrim and Newtownabbey’s excellent transport links for colleagues, customers and suppliers made Global Point the natural choice for Sensata Technologies’ new purpose-built Research & Development facility. Opened in 2025, the site brings together 360 highly skilled engineers and support staff, fostering collaboration and driving innovation in the design and testing of advanced sensor technologies for the automotive industry. The Council’s support throughout planning, construction, and launch has been invaluable in making this vision a reality."
Darren WalkerNI Site Leader, Sensata Technologies

Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence

Positioned at the heart of Antrim Newtownabbey’s investment ecosystem, the Advanced Manufacturing & Innovation Centre (AMIC) is a flagship development designed to drive growth, collaboration, and innovation across the region.

Funded by the Belfast Region City Deal, Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University, and a £10m contribution from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, AMIC represents a significant strategic investment in Northern Ireland’s advanced manufacturing future and associated supply chain. Due for completion in spring 2026, it will provide world-class facilities and a platform for businesses to scale, innovate, co-locate and connect with global partners.

State-of-the-art facilities:

10,500 m² ‘Factory of the Future’ designed for flexible manufacturing, R&D, and engineering innovation.

Significant economic impact:

Projected to generate over £1 billion (direct and indirect) by 2050.

Job creation and skills development:

Over 1,500 permanent jobs and 300 apprenticeships supported.

Collaborative ecosystem:

Open access to industry, academia, and international companies to foster innovation and partnerships.

Strategic location:

Situated at Global Point Business Park, with excellent transport links, connectivity, sites readily available for future development, and access to talent.

Anchor investment credibility:

Supported by a mix of government, academic, and local council funding, reflecting confidence and long-term commitment.

Innovation Gateway for World Class Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Occupying a strategic location with excellent transport links, Antrim Newtownabbey is rapidly emerging as a hub for regional, national and international distribution and logistics businesses, many of which are seeking to maximise the new trading arrangements. Recent major investments by Sysco Ireland and Hannon PharmaLink complement the well-established regional distribution centres operated by Hendersons, Lidl and many other brand names.

As the home of Belfast International Airport, the Borough is also close to other major air and sea ports, offering a significant strategic advantage. This connectivity strengthens its position as a hub for innovative global supply-chain activity, supporting the aerospace industry as well as the wider logistics and supply-chain management sectors. The site also provides the flexibility needed for future expansion.

Exceptional Investment Portfolio

Our investment portfolio offers exceptional land and building solutions near Belfast as well as Belfast International Airport. These Strategic Employment Locations are key to our future growth and are at the core of our new Local Development Plan.

Global Point & Doagh Road, Newtownabbey

Approximately 25 hectares (60 acres) of developable land is immediately available and zoned for employment/industrial use, with major utility connections and infrastructure already in place. Global Point Business Park, owned by Invest NI, is a fully serviced site available to lease to Invest NI client companies. The business park benefits from an existing planning permission which means it is ‘investment ready’. Additional investment will also connect the nearby railway halt to Global Point with an extended Park & Ride facility to be built in 2026. Although the park focusses on advanced manufacturing, sites are suitable for a variety of uses and can be divided into smaller plots.

As this innovative advanced manufacturing cluster expands, powered by AMIC, we expect the demand from businesses to co-locate here to grow significantly. The surrounding hinterland offers excellent potential for expansion to meet this demand and presents an attractive investment opportunity in the short to medium-term.

Nutts Corner incorporating Nutts Corner Commercial Park

Nutts Corner Commercial Park is quickly becoming one of Northern Ireland’s most sought-after locations for high-performance commercial growth. Perfectly positioned, the 30-acre site at Nutts Corner roundabout is just minutes from Belfast International Airport and a short drive from Belfast city centre, offering unbeatable access to the M1, regional airports, and the major ports of Belfast and Larne.

With planning permission already in place for a modern distribution park, the site is ideal for logistics, manufacturing, and bespoke design-and-build projects that demand premium connectivity and seamless access to global markets.

Through the new Local Development Plan, the wider Nutts Corner site is designated as a Strategic Employment Location, unlocking significant land suitable for employment uses including industrial development, transport & logistics, and storage & distribution proposals. The approval of four major planning applications within the last three years has resulted in an investment of over £84m in this area.

Belfast International Airport

Northern Ireland’s largest airport, Belfast International Airport was purchased by the Vinci Group in 2018. It is the 10th largest airport in the UK, serving six million passengers annually and is undergoing a £100 million, five-year investment programme. The airport is a major base for EasyJet, Jet2, Ryanair and TUI.

Significant investment has already been completed to provide solar power, LED lighting and renewable solutions for the site, with other private sector investment nearby including a new Premier Inn hotel. The lands surrounding the main Belfast International Airport terminal present an ample supply of sites available for a wide variety of uses, such as manufacturing and distribution, aviation-related activities, offices and leisure.

RAF Aldergrove lies adjacent to the airport site, with a land holding of 135 hectares (334 acres). The land is currently underutilised for military purposes and represents a key opportunity to develop complementary uses to the airport which could be of regional significance to the Northern Ireland economy.

In anticipation of the impending Local Development Plan, this location is likely to be suitable for a wide range of industrial, business, airport-related and other complementary employment and service uses.

Investment Team

Our investment team is ready to help you maximise your investment.

Our integrated service provides site identification support, pre-planning guidance, facilitated engagement with key partners and access to our public and private contacts to ensure that you are fully supported in your investment journey. We will assist you through our skills and employability programmes to build your workforce and ensure your short, medium and long-term ambitions are met.

With strong connections to local occupiers and anchor tenants, innovative skills partnerships and access to Invest NI and other funding programmes, we help investors explore and maximise opportunities with confidence.