COUNCIL officers are still reviewing the outline business case for redeveloping the Newcastle Centre and are hoping for progress in early 2024. The long-awaited overhaul of the town centre landmark is set to see the development on-site of new leisure facilities, including a swimming pool, and, at Monday’s Active and Healthy Communities Committee meeting, Slieve Croob Alliance councillor Andrew McMurray requested a project update. “I know there has been a muchvaunted business case about the leisure centre, and I am just wondering, is that ready to go yet or is there any word on it yet?” he asked.
Responding, Leisure and Sport assistant director Paul Tamati confirmed that officers are “still reviewing the outline business case that needs to be put forward”. “We are working through that process and ensuring that it is as robust as it can be,” he stated. “We know that things like external funding have a very rigorous process, and so we are ensuring that our outline business case for that project is as robust as it can be. “We’re hoping for something to bring forward in the New Year in relation to it.”
Cllr McMurray also enquired about access to any future events space at the rear of the centre, should a bid for monies from the Department for Communities’ Living High Street Fund be successful. “Has any thought been given to how the site will be used and especially accessed?” he asked. “Just on the pedestrian access, will it be through the centre into the outside site, will it be through the car park into the site, or will it be through the back gate into that site? “Will it be all three?”
Mr Tamati replied that the funding, as outlined in a closed session report presented to the committee last month, is “about flexible space enabling works”. “Part of that funding is also about linkages, if you like, to the high street for better access,” he said. “It is anticipated we would be improving pedestrian access to out the back there, and we are looking at a range of options. “It is probably seen as a bit of a standalone situation, so the site could be utilised potentially when the Newcastle Centre is not open.
“So, that is probably the things that we are looking at. “We still haven’t got confirmation of that funding or anything like that yet. “We still have a group of processes to go through, but, broadly, we will be looking at improving pedestrian access to out the back there.”