£16.4m Project Begins: GRAHAM Arrives At Quay Road Site

The Mayor, on behalf of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, has welcomed the arrival of contractors GRAHAM to the Quay Road site in Ballycastle this week, as groundwork for the new Leisure Centre begins.

The building team arrived on-site this week, with the Mayor describing the commencement of works as a ‘momentous day for the town’. The £16.4 million project, jointly funded by Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council and the UK Government, is expected to be completed by November 2026.

Located at the Quay Road playing fields, the new facility will feature a 25-metre swimming pool, a gym, community space, and a changing places room. It will also include a café, an outdoor pump cycle track, walking trails, and an accessible play park.

Welcoming the announcement, Councillor McQuillan said: “The provision of leisure and recreation facilities is central to the health and wellbeing of our communities. It has always been our aspiration to deliver a leading leisure centre in Ballycastle for the benefit of those who live here, as well as the town’s significant visitor population.

“We are delighted with the local community’s support for this initiative, and, as a Council, we are very pleased to act on behalf of our citizens to deliver significant investment, create a lasting legacy, and ensure future growth and development. The commencement of this project does indeed mark an exciting milestone for both the project and Ballycastle, and we look forward to working with GRAHAM.”

The Mayor continued: “For the first time, the coastal community will be able to learn to swim in a Council facility in the town, without having to travel upwards of 20 miles to a different location. This will make a huge difference, especially to families and young people.

“Ballycastle’s attractive coastal location, along with its outdoor spaces, are among its best assets and contribute greatly to its popularity and reputation, yet these have never been matched by infrastructure of this kind.

“This project will bring renewed sustainability, and its central location will enhance connections between the seafront area and the town centre—welcome news for the area’s long-term prosperity. I look forward to seeing it progress.”

Members of the public will be able to submit questions and follow the progress of this exciting new Ballycastle facility via Councils updates page: https://causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk/blc