Craigavon's new £35 million leisure centre development has celebrated a major project milestone.

The project team hosted a topping out ceremony at the South Lake Leisure Centre to mark the building reaching its highest point.

Contractor Farrans will now look to deliver internal and external work ahead of the centre's official opening in autumn 2020.

Set to be one of Northern Ireland's latest and largest public leisure complexes, the new centre will features an eight-lane, 50-metre swimming pool, a teaching pool, fun pool and a spectator gallery. It will include the largest gym available on the island of Ireland, with state-of-the-art equipment, spin and dance studios. An extensive health and beauty suite, activity rooms, squash courts and a large sports hall suitable for a variety of sporting activities, as well an extensive outdoor watersports provision will also help form the development.

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Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Cllr Mealla Campbell, said: "The new South Lake Leisure Centre will serve as an icon for Craigavon and the wider borough and its creation underlines our commitment to provide the very best amenities for residents and visitors for decades to come.

"This outstanding, breath-taking facility will provide an unrivalled health and wellbeing provision which will improve the quality, health and wellbeing of our citizens and deliver an exciting platform of opportunity to encourage and inspire greater sports participation and achievement at a local, national and international level.

"This new high-performance South Lake Leisure Centre will be a hive of activity, reflecting the vibrancy and ambition of the borough and the people we represent."

As well regenerating the area with a new leisure space, the project has also supported a number of construction jobs, with around 500 full-time workers on hand to complete the scheme.

Farrans has also utilised local employers like Callan Construction, D&K Systems, Taranto Piling, GM Wall Tracking and J&C Agencies throughout.

The South Lake Leisure Centre forms part of major regeneration programme across the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area.

(CM/MH)