Dunleath Park is put up for sale

Dunleath Park is put up for sale

25 November 2015

THE Dunleath Park sports pitches in Downpatrick are for sale.

The Ballydugan Road pitches were purchased from Dunleath Estates in 2006 by local businessman John Miskelly and went back on the open market this week.

Dunleath Park is used extensively by the Downpatrick Youth Football League with hundreds of young footballers playing games every Saturday and Sunday morning. 

The sports pitches also host soccer games in the Newcastle League and the all-weather shale and GAA pitches are also heavily used.

A large “for sale” sign was erected at the Ballydugan Road pitches this week but is highly unlikely they will be redeveloped as Dunleath Park is zoned as an amenity space, preventing commercial or industrial development.

Any proposed changes to the terms of the lease or removing the amenity space designation would have to be agreed by Newry, Mourne and Down Council and local planners. If agreement was ever reached to redevelop Dunleath Park, sports pitches would have to be provided at an alternative location.

A Council spokeswoman said the local authority understands that the freehold title to lands at Dunleath Park are being offered for sale.

“The Council holds a lease from the owner of the freehold for the term of 999 years from 1 November, 1949, in relation to lands at Dunleath Park,” she explained.

“Any sale of the freehold title will be subject to the various leases and interests which affect the freehold estate and, as a result, will not impact upon the council lands at Dunleath Park, including the playing fields and the existing and proposed new leisure centres.”