Step closer for leisure centre plan in Newcastle

Step closer for leisure centre plan in Newcastle

31 May 2023

A BUSINESS case designed to pave the way for Newcastle’s new multi-million pound leisure centre is due to be completed as early as next month.

The Recorder understands consultants are putting the final touches to the document and that politicians have been informed that the business case will be ready for discussion in June.

Following the completion of a detailed feasibility study — which looked at a number of potential locations — the Newcastle Centre site in the heart of the resort was chosen to house the new facility.

Proposals are being worked up to build a new complex at the rear and to the side of the Main Street building with the current Tropicana outdoor pool bulldozed and replaced with an indoor facility. 

The new centre is also expected to feature a children’s water play facility.

An extension constructed at the rear of the existing Newcastle Centre several decades ago has already been bulldozed, with the new-build option chosen as redeveloping the existing complex ruled out due to the scale of the costs involved.

Mournes councillors are fully supportive of a new leisure centre in the resort, with the cost of the new facility due to be confirmed in the business case.

The new proposed new leisure complex will be larger than the current centre which is a listed building and poses major problems for the council in transforming it into an energy efficient facility which meets current building regulations and standards.

Plans to redevelop the Main Street site, which council officials insist will not impact on part of the promenade at the rear, were outlined some time ago with local politicians keen to examine the content of the business case in granular detail.

Senior council officials have consistently insisted that the Newcastle project is a priority and that there will be detailed public consultation on the way forward.

They recognise that as one of Northern Ireland’s premier tourist resorts, Newcastle does not have a modern indoor leisure facility which has been its Achilles heel for some considerable time.

Two sites were previously identified for a new leisure centre in the resort, with sports pitches at Donard Park the preferred option.

However, councillors subsequently switched attention to the former St Mary’s Girls’ Primary School campus at Shanslieve Drive. 

Despite a number of attempts to secure the site and hopes that a deal could be agreed with local church officials, it was bought by supermarket giant Lidl.

Politicians are keen for a high class leisure facility, which has been talked about in the resort for decades, to finally be delivered and are pleased that the business case paving the way for its development will soon be available.

They say the provision of a modern leisure provision in the heart of Newcastle is long overdue as the resort does not have a dedicated centre for people to visit when the weather takes a turn for the worse.

Politicians say the once in a generation opportunity which has been presented to deliver a modern leisure facility in Newcastle must be grasped with both hands and every inch of available space at the development site must be utilised to the full.

A Newry, Mourne and Down Council spokeswoman confirmed yesterday that the organisation has agreed to complete a full business case to identify a preferred option for the resort’s new multi-million pound leisure centre.

In addition, she confirmed the local authority has progressed the demolition of the auditorium extension at the rear of the Newcastle Centre, which forms part of the Annesley Buildings, and is completing internal works to re-house groups who have been temporarily displaced due to the demolition work.

“These works and actions are currently still ongoing and any update on the project and these actions will be reported through the council’s committee structures,” the spokeswoman added.