Plans have been submitted for a new forestry building, which is part of the £5 million Connecting Pomeroy project, in Mid Ulster.

The £1.6 million building will act as a visitor centre as well as a shared community building with an open general area which will complement the outside forest area.

The new building will offer a large multi-use space, complete with retractable seating for approximately 150 people, two multi-purpose rooms, a coffee dock area, toilets, changing facilities and showers, kitchen facilities and a sensory garden.

A planning application has also been submitted for the £1m community shared spaces that will encourage local communities to engage in cross-community activity. These include a gym and changing facilities at Pomeroy GFC, a new multi-use games area at the Presbyterian Church Hall and a new Church of Ireland Hall to be built next to the old police barracks site.

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In the coming weeks planning applications will also be submitted for the transformation of the two existing forest trails valued at £500,000, and for a new £796,000 Public Realm Scheme in the village which will see a new streetscape, street furniture, improved lighting and safe walking links created to the new shared facilities.

Chair of the Council, Councillor Cathal Mallaghan, said: "Being from the village of Pomeroy myself, this project is understandably one close to my heart. To see this massive investment in the village progress and gather momentum is extremely welcomed by me and the entire village of Pomeroy. Submitting the planning applications for the new forest building and the shared community spaces, to be closely followed by the trails and public realm scheme, is an extremely significant milestone in the Connecting Pomeroy project! I want to also thank the people of Pomeroy who have supported and championed the project from the very beginning. "Underpinning these capital works is a community engagement programme delivered by Rural Action where local groups will participate in capacity building, leadership and engagement programmes, sports, health and wellbeing initiatives, environmental activities, educational courses, arts, culture and heritage projects as well as key strategic events. This engagement will be vital in ensuring that residents are involved in, and contribute to, the project."