Newry Leisure Centre has won in the Regeneration category at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards.

The £19 million Newry, Mourne and Down District Council project received an award at a ceremony held in Belfast on 24 May.

Building contractors Felix O'Hare & Co completed work on the centre alongside surveyor consultants Currie & Brown and Kennedy Fitzgerald Architects LLP.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson Councillor Mark Murnin said: "I am extremely proud that Newry Leisure Centre was nominated and ultimately won its category at the recent RICS Awards event in Belfast. The RICS Awards showcase the most inspirational initiatives and developments in land, real estate, construction and infrastructure. Newry Leisure Centre is a fantastic health and wellbeing venue for the entire community, the Council, and indeed the district. The £19m leisure centre project, funded mainly by the Council, was a two-phase design concept combining numerous facilities that were previously spread across Newry and includes an eight lane swimming pool with moving floor, a cafe, two large sports halls, fitness suites and fitness studios."

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Cllr Murnin continued: "Our leisure facilities are accessible to everyone and provide a vast range of activities to include in your active lifestyle. As outlined in the Councils Corporate Plan, the Council wishes to play its part in improving quality of life and reducing health inequalities, primarily through programmes, services and access to open spaces. The Council is delighted to be able to provide world class facilities to make anyone's goal of integrating physical activity into their everyday routine a lot easier."

Newry Sports Centre will now compete against other regional winners at the national RICS Awards Grand Final in November for the chance to be crowned overall UK winners in the Regeneration category.

(CM/MH)