Site unveiled for new centre

Site unveiled for new centre

14 March 2013

THE site for Saintfield’s new £4.4m community leisure facility has been revealed.

A planning application to build the multi-million pound facility at the site of an existing warehouse at the town’s Belfast Road has been lodged with planners. The site is directly opposite Saintfield High School.

News that planning permission is being sought for the much-needed facility comes one month after Down Council confirmed it is to invest in the Saintfield project.

Two potential sites were initially in the running to house the new facility and council officials recently agreed to select the Belfast Road site and are continuing discussions with the landowner.

Confirmation that the site of the multi-million pound centre has now been identified and that the planning application has been submitted has been welcomed by Rowallane councillor William Dick.

He said he’s “delighted” the proposed development has now moved to the next stage and hopes planners will make an early decision.

“The bid to secure planning permission comes six years after I called a public meeting in Saintfield to discuss the provision of a new community leisure facility,” he explained.

“The meeting was packed to the doors, reflecting the desire of Saintfield people to have such a centre in their own town.”

Councillor Dick said following the public meeting, various community groups in the town joined forces and persuaded Down Council to carry out a feasibility study on the proposed new centre.

“The study identified the ‘glaring need’ for such a facility in Saintfield and Down Council last month committed money to the new centre. The decision to apply for planning permission marks a significant step forward,” he continued.

Once planning permission has been secured, the scheme moves to the detailed design stage and councillor Dick said the people of Saintfield will be fully consulted.

He said it’s very important local people have an input into the development process and that this view is shared by senior Down Council officials.

The construction of the new centre is expected to create jobs in the construction industry, with new local authority staff expected to be employed to run the facility.

Down Council officials have also suggested the Saintfield scheme offers the potential for the local authority to work in partnership with other organisations, including education authorities.