Work to start on Newcastle leisure plans

Work to start on Newcastle leisure plans

20 November 2024

WORK is to start on securing formal planning approval for two multi-million pound leisure projects in Newcastle.

Finance to allow work on the detailed design of the town’s new leisure centre and redevelopment of the Rock Pool has made been available by Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s Strategic Finance Working Group.

The green light to proceed was taken at a behind-closed-doors meeting last week, with the six figure sum due to be formally rubber-stamped by the local authority’s influential Strategy, Policy and Resources Committee.

The new leisure centre and Rock Pool redevelopment are seen as key projects, but won’t come cheap.

It was claimed earlier this year that the final bill for could be in the region of £30m.

It is being suggested that the anticipated £11m cost of an ultra-modern new leisure facility – which would include an indoor pool – could potentially double to £20m, while the final bill to restore the crumbling outdoor Rock Pool at South Promenade could be as high as £7m.

The new leisure centre will be built on the site of the Newcastle Centre in Central Promenade while various engineering studies have been carried out at the outdoor Rock Pool to determine its long term future.

Demolition work to bulldoze a rear extension at the Newcastle Centre has been completed.

The new leisure complex is expected to feature an indoor pool which will include three 30 metre swimming lanes and a dedicated heated play pool for children. The eagerly-awaited new facility will also feature an ultra-modern gymnasium.

At the outdoor seawater Rock Pool, major work is required at the facility which enjoys protected status and has been closed for the past four years.

The council-owned facility opened in the early 1930s, but a specialist survey has confirmed that a number of major issues require urgent attention and that considerable costs are involved.

A number of options for the future of the pool have already been discussed with suggestions that the local authority may join forces with the community in a bid to secure grant funding to carry out much-needed repairs. 

The organisation will not go it alone to leave ratepayers picking up the full bill.

It has previously been reported that the Rock Pool’s concrete structure has been extensively degraded, while the filtration system is almost unusable, with seawater pipes so corroded that rust is coming off them and contaminating the water being filtered. 

The pool is unable to retain water as a result of cracks in the concrete and has been described as no longer fit-for-purpose. There are also concerns the pool does not comply with current health and safety standards.

Local Sinn Féin councillor Willie Clarke has welcomed the decision to make the necessary finance available to bring both projects to the formal planning application stage.

“The redevelopment of the Newcastle Centre and Rock Pool has been identified as a priority in both the council’s corporate lan and the Active and Healthy Community Department’s annual business plan,” he said.

“It is crucial that we allocate the necessary budget within the council’s capital programme to move these vital projects forward.”

Cllr Clarke said “significant progress” had already been made, with concept designs and a draft business case developed for the new leisure centre.

“The Rock Pool redevelopment is also a key project and it is encouraging to see us moving closer to submitting a planning application for its full restoration,” he continued. 

Cllr Clarke said it was important the new leisure centre featured indoor water facilities, including a family-friendly pleasure pool and multiple swimming lanes.

“The scheme is now progressing to the design stage in preparation for planning applications which is welcome news, while the refurbishment of the Rock Pool is also advancing, allowing the council to explore external funding opportunities.”

Cllr Clarke added: “Sinn Féin is committed to supporting the full restoration of this historic asset. The Rock Pool is at the heart of Newcastle’s ‘old town’ and plays a vital role in preserving our built heritage. It must be protected, restored and enjoyed by our community.”