Building Work To Start On New Leisure Centre In Co Down

Construction work is to start to develop a new leisure facility in Newtownards, Co Down.

The building will located on the site of the Dairy Hall playing fields. The work is due to begin in February and is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

The existing leisure centre at William Street will remain in use until the new facility is ready.

The new leisure centre, which represents an investment of more than £30million, will offer a wide range of sports, recreation and family leisure facilities including:

• a 6 lane gala pool

• a 20m teaching pool (both pools have moveable floors)

• a water splash play and paddling pool

• a high quality spa area with vitality pool/chill pool sauna/steam rooms and treatment rooms

• a 6 court sports hall

• an independent outdoor covered sports pitch

• a multi-purpose meeting and activity room

• a dance, cycle/ spin studios

• a fitness suite

• a café area

• party rooms

• an indoor flexible space for adventure leisure activities and an indoor soft play area

• an outdoor adventure play area

• an outdoor skate park provision and an outdoor mountain bike area.

Ards and North Down Borough Council Chief Executive, Stephen Reid, said: "This is an exciting and much anticipated development for the Borough. The new leisure centre represents a very significant investment in high quality sport and leisure facilities for people of all ages and will contribute much to our overall objective of promoting the health and wellbeing of residents. The features that will be included have been shaped by consultation with user groups and will complement the facilities available at Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex, Londonderry Park and across the wider borough."

(CD)