County Derry GAA Club to be demolished
The site will become home to a new health and wellbeing Centre
A County Derry Gaelic club’s hall and gym is set to be demolished to make way for a new health and wellbeing centre.
Mid Ulster District Council’s planning committee has backed the proposed plans that were lodged by The Boyd Partnership on behalf of the applicant, Robert Emmets GAC, Slaughtneil.
As well as a new community health and well-being centre at the club’s grounds at 18 Halfgayne Road, Maghera, the plans also propose a new covered multi-purpose space at the club’s grounds.
The 6.83 hectare site is currently in use as playing pitches with associated club house, changing rooms, gym and hall buildings with existing on-site parking.
The redevelopment will include a new gym and fitness suite, community social spaces, multi-purpose rooms, a kitchen/servery and ancillary stores.
The provision of a new GAA compliant grass pitch with floodlighting and ball net stops, a single storey outbuilding for toilets/plant and machinery storage and a new terrace hard standing area for spectator viewing has also been approved.
As well as this, new walking trails and the reconfiguration of on-site parking with a new vehicular access and associated boundary works will also be introduced.
There were no objections to the report created by Council’s planners that was presented to members of the committee.
A design and access statement explained the "proposed community building will provide new and enhanced leisure and community facilities”.
The statement read: “The proposed enhancement of existing uses has been designed to support the local population and enhance access to amenity and leisure facilities and provides opportunities for community health and education programmes,” reads the statement.
“The site layout has been designed to take account of the adjacent land uses and minimise any potential impact on the amenity within the scheme.
“There are no industrial or business uses proposed which would have a detrimental impact on the neighbouring land uses in terms of health and well-being or amenity issues.”