CGI Aerial View of proposed Blackhall Complex
Westmeath County Council will lodge planning applications for the Mullingar Regional Sports Complex projects this week. The long-awaited Mullingar Regional Sports Complex comprises two distinct community-based, multi-sport facilities at Blackhall and Robinstown. The proposed development at Blackhall will include an 8 lane 25m swimming pool with spectator seating, a 20m teaching pool and splash pad. The complex will also contain a 12-badminton court /3 basketball court multi-use sports hall, a state-of-the-art gym, studios, meeting rooms and changing rooms.
The site at Robinstown will include 3 all-purpose, all-weather pitches, 4 padel courts and 1 outdoor basketball court a walking trail and a playground. The Robinson site will also include a pavilion building comprising 3 dedicated indoor training spaces, changing rooms, toilets and ancillary facilities.
The design team undertook a sports need assessment as part of the design process, which included extensive consultation with members of the public, local sports clubs and national and regional sporting bodies. The study highlighted the need for additional swimming facilities in the area with existing facilities struggling to meet the level of demand from clubs and the local community.
The study also highlighted the need for other sporting infrastructure such as indoor sports halls to support the needs of a range of sporting activities including basketball, volleyball, badminton and futsal.
The study identified the need for additional floodlit training facilities to accommodate increased club development and talent identification for outdoor team sports. Women’s sports in particular were identified as needing additional training facilities.
The Mullingar Regional Sports Complex projects seek to address the significant sporting needs highlighted in the assessment. They will substantially boost active participation and improve the quality of sport for all.
The projects will deliver significant economic benefits to the region through increased employment both at construction phase and at operational phase.
Due to its central location, Mullingar has been identified as an excellent location to accommodate national & regional sporting events, performance training camps and other events such as concerts. These events will increase visitor numbers to the town generating associated economic activity in particular in hospitality, retail and accommodation sectors.
The project also aims to lead by example relation to sustainability and accessibility for all. The designers have given careful consideration to the requirements of users of all abilities when preparing the design, including accessible changing facilities, sufficient door widths for sports wheelchairs and pool pod access to the swimming pool.
Westmeath County Council are holding a public information evening on Wed 23rd July from 4-8pm where members of the public can meet the design team and view the proposals. The information evening will take place in the atrium of Áras an Chontae, Mullingar. The planning applications for the Blackhall and Robinstown projects will then be lodged on 25th July and will be on public display for 4 weeks until 26th August on www.westmeathcoco.ie and in Áras An Chontae, Mullingar.
Plan View of proposed Blackhall Development
Plan View of proposed Robinstown Development
The Regeneration & Capital Projects Team can be contacted at
Regeneration & Capital Projects,
Westmeath County Council,
Áras an Chontae,
Mullingar,
Co. Westmeath. N91 FH4N
Tel. 044-9332000
Email: regen@westmeathcoco.ie
