Cost of new leisure centre spirals by £5m

The new South Lakes Leisure Centre is to cost £35 million - £5m more than first envisaged.
An impression of how the reception might look like at the new South Lake Leisure Centre in CraigavonAn impression of how the reception might look like at the new South Lake Leisure Centre in Craigavon
An impression of how the reception might look like at the new South Lake Leisure Centre in Craigavon

Spearheaded by Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council, the new centre is being built on the shores of the balancing lakes in the City Park. The extra cost has been put down to changes in the size of swimming provision.

A spokeswoman for the council said: “The total cost specified reflects the additional costs associated with increasing the size of the swimming provision which was agreed following a very extensive consultation process.”

The council confirmed that NI firm Farrans has the contract. The council said it had initiated a ‘proactive campaign’ to inform the local community about impending works.

Meanwhile, in a leaked document, the Times can reveal the council is set to spend £26,000 on outside consultants in relation to the future of the three current leisure centres in Portadown, Lurgan and Brownlow, which are set to close when the South Lakes Centre opens.

A council spokeswoman said: “The council is committed to agreeing a long term strategy for the three facilities and is considering ways in which their future can be aligned for the economic and social benefit of these areas.”

Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Alderman Gareth Wilson, said: “With planning secured and an agreed work schedule in place, the council’s vision to provide transformational leisure facilities which will be enjoyed by existing and future generations for decades to come is at last being realised.

“Recreation brings people together from all generations and I am certain that once completed, this landmark health and leisure facility will serve a growing community that will be encouraged to improve their health and wellbeing, to participate in an activity at whatever level they choose, and, above all, have fun.”

Based in Northern Ireland but with offices across the UK, Farrans is an award-winning market leader in project delivery and has a wealth of experience across a range of sectors, including leisure.

The company behind the award-winning £38m Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Bangor, Farrans has also completed a major £15m redevelopment of the existing leisure facility at Rushcliffe Civic Centre in Nottingham, breathing new life into the area last year. It is also poised to work on constructing One Bankmore Square in Belfast – a planned scheme for the largest single office building in Northern Ireland.

In addition to the staff that will run the new leisure facility, the project will create more than 500 jobs during the build. The construction phase alone is also expected to deliver an estimated £6.5 million in direct wages to the economy.

Brigid McGuigan, Farrans’ community engagement manager, said: “We’re excited that this transformational, multimillion-pound development project will soon start to take shape and we look forward to further engaging our communities, updating them on new build plans and on progress throughout.

“We encourage feedback and we will work hard to minimise the sometimes inevitable but temporary disruption that large-scale construction can cause. This is our commitment and it is our priority.”

Once complete, the new gym will be the largest available on the island of Ireland, featuring state-of-the-art equipment, spin and dance studios. It will also include an extensive health and beauty suite, activity rooms, squash courts and a large sports hall suitable for a variety of sporting activities, as well an extensive outdoor watersports provision.

Plans for the new leisure complex – first floated in 2010 – are part of a wider and ambitious regeneration programme across the ABC area. It will represent the largest capital project ever undertaken by the council since its formation in 2015 and will provide an enhanced facility designed to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of the whole borough.