£25m Ballymena leisure centre plans approved as council eyes future funding
- Love Ballymena
- Jan 15
- 4 min read
Aerial views of the proposed new leisure centre in Ballymena
Plans for a long-awaited £25 million leisure, health and wellbeing centre in Ballymena have been formally approved by councillors, marking a significant milestone in efforts to replace the town’s ageing Seven Towers Leisure Centre.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee gave the green light on Thursday 15 January 2025 for the major development, which will be located on 1.7 hectares of land at the St Patrick’s Regeneration site, adjacent to and south of Demesne Avenue and around 100 metres north-east of Castle Tower School on St Patrick’s Link.
Replacing a 55-year-old facility
The new centre is intended to replace the Seven Towers Leisure Centre, construction of which began in 1969 before it officially opened to the public in June 1971.
More than five decades on, the existing facility is widely regarded as no longer fit for purpose, with ageing infrastructure and limited capacity to meet modern leisure, health and accessibility standards.
Council officers say the proposed development represents a once-in-a-generation investment in Ballymena’s public amenities and has been designed to position the town among the leading leisure destinations in Northern Ireland.
What the new leisure centre will include
The 25-metre, 8-lane swimming pool with moveable floor with balcony viewing gallery
The approved plans outline a single three-storey building with a gross internal floorspace of 7,893 square metres and an overall height of 16.3 metres, located in the northern corner of the site to maximise separation from nearby homes along Demesne Avenue and St Patrick’s Way.
Facilities approved as part of the development include:
• A 25-metre, 8-lane swimming pool with moveable floor
• A learner pool, splash pool and aqua play area
• A four-court sports hall
3D plan view of fitness suite
Aspect from fitness suite, out to the Ecos Nature Park
Internal aspect of the spa area and vitality pool
• A 670m² fitness suite
• Gym and spin studio with 30 bikes
• Clip ‘n’ climb attraction
• Soft play area, including a dedicated toddler space
• Café with seating for up to 50 people
• Community hub / multi-purpose room
• Spa facilities, including treatment rooms, samarium, rock sauna, herbal steam, ice room and vitality pool
External works will include an outdoor workout area, landscaped spaces, car parking, dedicated bus parking and lay-by, cycle stands and a substation.
Vehicular and pedestrian access will be provided via Demesne Avenue, with additional pedestrian links along the eastern boundary adjoining St Patrick’s Link, encouraging connectivity with the Ecos Hub and Ecos Nature Park.
Designed for sport, families and events
The double-height sports hall is designed to accommodate a wide range of activities, including five-a-side football, basketball, badminton, netball, pickleball, volleyball, indoor hockey, table tennis and martial arts. It will also be suitable for children’s parties, community events, conferences and trade shows.
Dry changing facilities will be provided for male, female and accessible users, while the swimming facilities will feature a unisex changing village, a Changing Places room and buggy storage.
A spectator viewing gallery with capacity for 115 people will overlook the learner pool, supporting swimming galas and community events.
Despite the extensive range of facilities, some users may be disappointed that dedicated squash courts do not form part of the approved plans. Squash has enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence in recent times in the town with a passionate local club attracting new members for both leisure and competition.
Café views and community focus
Main entrance to the new leisure centre in Ballymena
View of the facility from Demense Avenue
At ground floor level, the main entrance opens into a lobby with reception and café area. The café will provide access to an external paved seating area offering elevated views across to Ecos Nature Park, reinforcing the centre’s role as both a leisure and social hub for the town.
An external exercise space to the south-west of the building will support outdoor fitness activities, complementing the indoor offer.
Funding challenge remains
Alliance councillor for Ballymena Jack Gibson
While planning approval represents a major step forward, the project is not yet fully funded. Council sources indicate that securing approval strengthens the authority’s position as it explores external funding opportunities.
Alliance councillor for Ballymena Jack Gibson welcomed the decision but acknowledged the challenges ahead.
“I was pleased to see the planning application for the new leisure centre pass at today’s committee. This will give us a shovel-ready project should external funding become available.
“However, the leisure centre has been a matter of huge concern for me since joining Council. The town and surrounding area desperately needs a new facility, but at present it’s still not clear how we can pay for it.
“I and my colleagues have been and continue to work closely with officers to try to find a way to pay for the facility we need without placing an undue burden on our ratepayers.”
For many residents, the approval brings renewed hope that Ballymena will finally see a modern, inclusive leisure centre capable of serving families, sports clubs and older users for decades to come.
