Consultation Closes at Midnight on 1st October 2025

CLWC Facade Concept

Coleraine Leisure & Well-Being Design Concepts - Why are we Seeking Your Views?

Council is reconsidering concept designs for a new, modern, and fit-for-purpose leisure centre on the existing Railway Road site in Coleraine.

As a top priority, this project aims to:

  • Replace the outdated and inefficient current leisure facility.
  • Create an inclusive, sustainable regional leisure destination hub for local residents and tourists.
  • Contribute to town centre regeneration with an improved streetscape.

To secure the funding required for this redevelopment project, we are preparing a detailed Business Case for the one-off opportunity for Growth Deal funding. This is a critical first step before progressing to final design development and planning applications next year.

Your views are essential — public consultation will continue throughout the project development process.

Please access the survey via the following link - Click Here

Why Replace the Existing Leisure Centre?

  • The existing pool is over 50 years old and; the leisure centre opened in 1981.
  • High energy consumption and poor sustainability performance.
  • No longer meets modern leisure needs or accessibility standards.
  • Changes in leisure trends:
    • More demand for gyms, studios, and lifestyle activities.
    • Growth in tourism and loss of wet play provision (Waterworld) in Portrush.
    • Increased synthetic pitch use, reducing indoor sports hall demand.
  • Council’s aim: a deliverable, affordable, and future-proofed regional leisure facility by 2030.

How We Got Here?

  • Several feasibility studies and attempts to secure external funding. The most recent Business Case approved by Council in 2022 is now outdated.
  • A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Northern Health & Social Care Trust in 2023 to include Health & Wellbeing facilities within the new Leisure Centre.
  • The Coleraine Leisure & Well-Being Hub was included as a project for the regional Growth Deal, within Heads of Terms signed April 2024 and under the sponsorship of the Department for Communities.
  • Specialist leisure consultants, Alliance Leisure completed an independent assessment of strategic need for investment earlier this year, concluding a new Leisure Centre is critical for the region.
  • The Ministerial Advisory Group for Architecture and the Built Environment NI undertook a review of the proposed concepts in July 2025, recommending more community consultation and alignment with the Coleraine Future Town Fund.
  • Elected Members were presented with the concepts in June 2025 and they requested increased ambition for regional destination facility with greater focus on the tourism offering i.e. enhanced wet play facilities.

Affordability Has and Will Continue to be the Main Constraint

  • Council’s Growth Deal has earmarked at least £9m to this project.
  • Elected Members have determined that the redevelopment of the Leisure Centre is a top priority – this may result in a significant contribution to the project from the Council’s Capital Programme (funded through reserves and borrowing).
  • Council is currently exploring a number of different external funding options to complement the Growth Deal and Council funding e.g. a Shared Island Bid.

What are the Current Design Concepts?

Taking into consideration all of the above, Council has appraised a number of design options ranging from Core (Minimum) to Core++ (Maximum) taking account of the technical constraints of the existing site and potential funding available. The two shortlisted Core+ design options are detailed below:

1. Core+: Leisure & Well-Being Centre with Enhanced Wet Play Facilities

Included in this concept: a 25m Swimming Pool, a Learner Pool, Leisure Water / Enhanced Wet Play Area, a Large Gym & Studio Spaces with modern training equipment, Inclusive Changing Facilities, Health & Wellbeing Consultation Rooms and a Vending Area with Social Space.

Indicative Cost for this design concept: £47m (5,600m2)

As part of this proposal Council will explore opportunities to develop a large sports hall in other areas of Coleraine given the wide range of practical and social benefits of splitting the leisure offering across different sites.

CLWC Wet Play

2. Leisure & Well-Being Centre with Sports Hall

Included in this concept: a Sports Hall, a 25m Swimming Pool, a Learner Pool, small Wet Play Area, a Large Gym & Studio Spaces with modern training equipment, Inclusive Changing Facilities, Health & Wellbeing Consultation Rooms and a Vending Area with Social Space.

Indicative Cost for this design concept: £47m (5,600m2)

Council will continue to appraise both options within the Business Case considering not just initial capital cost but also operational costs, income potential and whole life costs of operating the new facility. This will considered alongside the potential for external funding opportunities in order to reduce the long term impact on Council’s borrowings and the rate payer.

CLWC Sports Hall

Exterior View Concepts

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Design Highlights

  • Regional leisure destination catering for residents and tourists of all ages.
  • New centre positioned at front of the site for visibility and town centre impact.
  • Modern, inclusive, and carbon-efficient design
  • Highly visible from the high street, improving urban integration
  • See below for examples of inspirational facilities:
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This consultation is your first opportunity to influence the design process, consider both options before you respond to the survey. Do you like certain aspects of each design or do you already have a preference?

Make sure your voice is heard.

Next Steps?

Survey

Your feedback will directly shape the design of the New Coleraine Leisure & Wellbeing Centre, click the button below to respond to this consultation.

An easy read version of this consultation is also available at the bottom of this page.

If you do not have access to a smartphone or a computer, you can call into Coleraine Leisure Centre to complete a written survey. You may also ring the following number 028 7034 7202 to request a hard copy by post.

Click here to access a Sign Video

Please access the survey via the following link - Click Here

Drop-in Sessions

Council will be displaying information boards on the design proposals and holding a number of public drop-in sessions at the Leisure Centre.

Drop-in Session Dates:

Wednesday 10th September 2025 from 12pm to 2pm and 3pm to 5pm

Thursday 18th September 2025 from 4pm to 7pm

Each of the sessions will be very informal so you can stay for as long or as short as you need. Members of staff will be on hand to explain the options, hear your views and to answer any questions.