Craigavon’s new leisure centre takes shape

Construction of the South Lake Leisure Centre in Craigavon is advancing quickly and is on course for phased completion in 2020.

With the steel frame structure now firmly installed – providing an anticipatory glimpse of how the structure will look on completion – foundation works to create the new 50-metre gala swimming pool are now well under way.

The latest build milestone paves the way for a series of key installations in quick succession, including the creation of two additional pools, an eight-court sports hall, studio spaces, squash courts and an indoor children’s soft play area.

Tandragee-based concrete and piling firm Taranto installed the 1,000 concrete piles needed to support the 415-tonne steel frame on the dryside of the building, supplied and installed by Walter Watson, a family firm based in Co Down.

Once complete, the new leisure centre will also be home to a world class 1,000m² gym - the largest available anywhere in Ireland – as well as an extensive outdoor water-sports provision, traditional best-in-class fitness facilities and fluid open spaces including a café and studios, which have been designed to meet community and visitor needs.

The new centre will be among the first in Northern Ireland to feature ‘Pool Pod’ platform lifts, designed as a legacy of the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics to improve pool access for people with disabilities and the less mobile.

This follows a major partnership with Disability Sport NI to deliver a flagship leisure centre which supports the development and long-term sustainability of sports and leisure programmes for people with disabilities. Working with Disability Sport NI, the council has ensured that access and facilities have been prioritised and advanced from design through to completion.

Our delivery partner Farrans, one of the UK and Ireland’s leading construction firms, is spearheading the contemporary new build and has a long track record of delivering successful projects, including Bangor’s award-winning Aurora leisure centre, Victoria Square shopping centre in Belfast and Craigavon Area Hospital.

This project was procured through our Construction framework, which is fully performance managed to ensure minimum levels of community and SME engagement, including the provision of training and apprenticeships for local people.