CONSTRUCTION of the new £8m world class water sports centre to be built at Ballyholme Yacht Club could begin as early as 2027.
The construction start date depends on how long it takes the major application to pass through the planning process, which could be lodged in April next year.
At a recent public consultation event it was confirmed that the new sports centre could be opening its doors by the end of 2028 or the start of 2029, if construction gets underway in 2027.
It emerged that a key component of the redevelopment scheme is that the current yacht club will remain open while construction of the new centre takes place.
The multi-million pound scheme includes a new clubhouse, boathouse, battery, slipway and wider jetty, as well as male and female changing facilities, a dry store and wet training rooms.
There will also be a cafe, a main reception, a members’ lounge, function rooms and a terrace overlooking the bay and headland.
The watersports centre is one of five projects contained in the £72m Bangor Waterfront scheme, which is separate to the Queen’s Parade redevelopment.
The four other projects included in the scheme include an urban waterfront public realm development, Pickie Fun Park refurbishment, phase two of the Court House and Bangor Marina.
Ards and North Down Council has been awarded £40m for the waterfront development as part of the Belfast Region City Deal. A further £20m has been secured from the council and an additional investment of £12.8m is being sought from private investment.
Some of the Ballyholme project’s key benefits highlighted at a recent public information day include increased community access through open days and courses and improved inclusivity for people of all abilities.
Ballyholme Yacht Club boasts decades of experience in hosting successful events and championships, such as the 2024 ILCA 6 Youth European Championships. The planned upgrades are expected to increase its capacity to attract both national and international visitors.
Following an extensive tender process, a design team led by Northern Ireland based WH Stephens was appointed to manage, design and deliver the Ballyholme Yacht Club project and associated consultation process.
Ben Meharry, project manager from WH Stevens, explained the scheme involved the preparation of a major planning application and further community engagement with all the stakeholders It is hoped the application will be lodged by April next year.
Gareth McKnight, senior associate at Kennedy Fitzgerald Architects, explained that at the heart of the design was ‘increasing the facility and the betterment of all the opportunities and flexibility for the club’.
Explaining the club would remain open whilst the construction of the new club house takes place, Mr McKnight said: “This (the club) will remain in operation during the construction of the new club.
He explained club members could then ‘decant’ into the new centre as demolition of the current club house and further works is completed.
