Planning approval granted for new Buncrana leisure centre 

Planning approval has been granted for a new leisure centre in Buncrana.

County councillors approved Part 8 planning for the state-of-the-art leisure centre on Monday.

The leisure centre on the town's shorefront closed in 2015 for renovations and has not reopened since.

It was recommended in 2018 that the building on Aileach Road be demolished and replaced with a new facility.

The plans are for a two-storey building of almost 2,500 square metres which includes a pool hall with a five-lane 25-metre-long pool, a learner pool, a flume slide and fitness facilities.   

Plans were submitted by the council in October last year for a new centre. Funding is being sought as part of the Repowering Buncrana project which involves a revamp of the town’s shorefront area. 

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Local councillor Jack Murray said that while the wait for a new centre “has been way, way too long, the approval of planning is a critical milestone to reach”.

“While I have been strongly critical of the long wait to date, I am delighted that we have - at last - reached this point,” he said. 

“There's barely a week goes by when I'm not asked about the leisure centre. It's rightly a priority for so many people in Inishowen. We'll keep at it until this peninsula has top-class leisure facilities that our people deserve.

“Lastly, I want to pay tribute to the council staff involved in progressing the designs, taking on board submissions from the public, and working with the architects to put together an amazing-looking centre. Also, to all those in the committee and members of the public who continue to push to ensure this a priority for the council.”