May date for regional sports centre planning application

Much work is being undertaken as Westmeath County Council works towards a May target date for submitting its planning applications for the new regional sports centre facilities in Mullingar, Cllr Aoife Davitt was informed at the council’s March monthly meeting.

Cllr Davitt sought an update and confirmation on whether the planning application for Blackhall Place – intended site of the new swimming pool – was likely to be submitted in Quarter 2.

Director of services, Jean Ryan, stated that design work is ongoing: “We have preliminary design done and we are preparing for planning. We’ve had a meeting with planners; a pre-planning meeting held, and significant engagement with various sporting bodies and industry experts to ensure that we have the right design for the two sites and the preliminary archaeology and site investigations are complete,” Ms Ryan said.

She added that as soon as the council and its architects, Henry J Lyons Architects, are ready to apply for planning, they will brief the elected members in detail before lodging the application.

Ms Ryan added that the council team and the architects are working towards lodging the application in May.