New Community Rescue Service training centre and station proposed for Ballymena
CGI giving an impression of what the new CRS Ballymena base could look like when constructed.
Tuesday 22 September 2026
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is considering a planning application for a new purpose-built training centre and station in Ballymena for the Community Rescue Service (CRS).
The proposal would see a single-storey building constructed at Kernohan’s Lane, around 70 metres from the Ecos Centre, together with 28 car parking spaces and covered cycle parking.
The site was previously used as a council-owned caravan and camping site.
Purpose-built base for search and rescue volunteers
A planning statement submitted in support of the application says the facility is needed to help CRS continue its search and rescue work and provide specialist training for its volunteers.
It states:
“To assist CRS in continuing its critical work, it requires a purpose-built training facility and station to enable its volunteers to be fully coached and educated on the techniques for search and rescue along with how to use the specialist equipment available.
“CRS operate as a lowland rescue charitable organisation and is a member of the Lowland Rescue Association.
“CRS is the primary responder to the statutory authorities for high-risk missing persons across Northern Ireland. It is the only accredited lowland search and rescue organisation in Northern Ireland, covering hill to high water and operated by volunteers from communities all across the region.
“The overall aim of CRS is to find vulnerable people who are missing and deliver them to a place of safety. Unfortunately, there are occasions when deceased people are located and at this stage, CRS would secure the scene for a police forensic investigation and would then recover the body on behalf of the PSNI.”
Why Ballymena was chosen
Proposed site location of new CRS Ballymena base in the Ecos Nature Park.
The planning statement says a presence in Ballymena is considered essential to provide coverage for the town and wider Mid and East Antrim area, while the location was selected because of its proximity to key transport links and waterways.
It states:
“It is essential for CRS to have a presence in Ballymena to ensure that the town and the wider Mid and East Antrim area is satisfactorily covered by this volunteer community organisation.
“The application site was chosen due to its access to the M2 along with nearby waterways as this is critically important for CRS, to maintain immediate responses to those in need and requiring assistance.
“The vital life-saving work being undertaken by CRS in Ballymena and the wider area is proposed to be sited in a modest purpose-built unit.”
The statement says the proposed development would provide “significant community benefits” for people requiring search and rescue assistance and emergency response.
Existing access to be retained
No alterations are proposed to the existing vehicular accesses from Kernohan’s Lane.
The planning statement adds:
“The application seeks to utilise existing vehicular accesses leading directly into the site from Kernohan’s Lane with no alterations proposed. The design of the proposal adopts a contemporary appearance whilst being modest in scale.”
An existing circular building, previously used as a changing and toilet facility for the former caravan and camping site, would be retained by CRS for the same purpose.
The application is now being considered by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council through the planning process.
