The £1.4 million Saintfield Community Centre offers a large indoor 3G pitch, complete with four changing rooms, while the main hall, studio and meeting room will host a wide range of activities.
As well as supporting sporting excellence in the region, the centre will become the most energy efficient centre within the district, with the provision of solar PV panels to provide electricity to run electrical equipment and LED lighting. In addition, air source heat pumps run from the PV panels to heat the building and water.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Charlie Casey officially opened the new facility last week.
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Speaking at the ceremony on Thursday 26 June, Cllr Casey said: "One of the Council's key aims is to provide high quality community facilities and to explore partnership opportunities to ensure sustainability of Community Services. We also aim to build community capacity to empower local people to effect change within their communities.
"This beautiful state-of-the-art building is an excellent example of partnership working between statutory and voluntary groups."
This project was delivered under the Shared Spaces and Services theme which aims to create a more cohesive society through an increased provision of shared spaces and services.
The new centre will be managed by the Saintfield Community Trust through a Facility Management Agreement with the council.
Damian Scarlett, Chairperson of Saintfield Community Trust added: "This is the beginning of a new era for the community of Saintfield. We now have excellent facilities within our doorstep that will be a benefit to all. It was a long and hard road to bring this project to a close and although I speak to you today as the chair of Saintfield Community Trust, we must pay tribute to the volunteers of the Saintfield Development Association who were the driving force for the community at the beginning."
(CM/JG)
