WATERFRONT MILESTONE
By Lesley Walsh
PLANS to expand Ballyholme Yacht Club into a world class sailing hub have been given the green light in the first of five major developments for Bangor.
In a ‘significant and historic milestone’ for the long-awaited £73m Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment, a design team has been appointed to ‘manage, design and deliver’ the rebirth of the Seacliff Road site into an international venue.
Funded by Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD), Ards and North Down Council and Department for Communities (DfC), the inaugural five part regeneration plans for Bangor were given the nod this week at the yacht club by Department for Communities Minister Gordon Lyons.
He said the proposed new ‘BYC Watersports Centre’ – the first of the five stage plans – marked ‘an important first step towards an exciting future for Bangor’.
No exact details of the future look of the yacht club have yet been outlined, however, it is expected to significantly enhance Ballyholme Yacht Club’s facilities, creating a state-of-the-art destination for water sports for the local community, including a replacement building, larger slipway, increased local participation in a wider range of watersports, heralding a major boost to the local economy.
Following an extensive tender process, chartered surveyors WH Stephens secured the deal to spearhead the club’s redevelopment plans, which is to start immediately, with the aim of being completed by 2028.
The move follows council approval for the project in May, after the agreement by the club’s redevelopment group to proceed with this first phase.
It aligns with council’s objectives under the Belfast Region City Deal to further ‘increase local participation in water sports, attract more visitors to the borough’ and provide jobs, said chief executive Susie McCullough.
The club development will enable it to stage large-scale events at international level, following the hugely successful ILCA6 Youth European Championships, which attracted 368 sailors from over around 45 countries worldwide.
The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Alistair Cathcart said the BRCD and council funding will, over the next 10 years, transform the city, increasing footfall, visitor numbers and jobs.
“The BYC redevelopment will make it easier for people of all ages and abilities to access water sports and attract international events that will boost the local economy and further put Bangor on the map.”
Mr Lyons welcomed ‘this first milestone has been reached on the Belfast Region City Deal funded Bangor Waterfront programme’.
“This is an important first step towards an exciting future for Bangor,” he said.
Rob Milligan, commodore of Ballyholme Yacht Club said the initiative ‘aligns perfectly with our vision to be the home of champions and the premier coastal water sports club in Northern Ireland’.
“By upgrading our facilities, we will enhance our ability to support much wider participation and excellence in water sports for all ages and abilities,” he said.
“In addition, the upgraded facilities will position us as a first-class venue for both local and international events, enabling us to win more bids and attract even more visitors to the region, boosting the local economy. We are excited for the future and the opportunities this project will bring.”
The Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment Programme will transform five sections of the coastline, along a 2.2 mile stretch from Skippingstone to the yacht club, with the other four schemes including, in order, the second phase of the Court House, the urban waterfront, Pickie Fun Park, and finally Bangor Marina.
