Derry and Strabane Council approves final plans for landmark wellness hub

Elected members of Derry City and Strabane District Council heard on Thursday how plans for the landmark development of the new Strabane Leisure Centre are gaining momentum as it progresses to the next stage.

Details of the project, a key element of the wider £115m Canal Basin regeneration investment, was provided at a Special meeting of Council. Elected members were informed that the project is transitioning into detailed design and planning with an expanded facility mix shaped by extensive community feedback.

They heard that following a public consultation in mid-2024 that engaged over 700 participants, 70% of whom expressed high positivity toward the proposals, the project team has successfully integrated key community requests into the development plans. ESC Construction Consultants were awarded the commission in July 2025 and are currently reviewing the concept designs.

As part of the environmental commitment, the project is pursuing Passivhaus accreditation, embedding towards net-zero principles to minimise the building's carbon footprint.

Elected members were informed that the statutory pre-planning engagement is expected to commence in Summer 2026 and that the new facility is currently targeted to open in the 2029/30 financial year, pending statutory approvals.

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To address specific needs raised by local groups like the Riversdale Otters Swimming Club and Ulster Squash, the Council has revised the building's layout to include an 8-lane 25m main pool (increased from the original 6-lane concept), a dedicated squash facilities integrated through efficient floor planning and a state-of-the-art fitness suite, wellness spa, and a separate leisure/teaching pool.

A bespoke split-level entrance has also been designed to integrate seamlessly with the Canal Basin.

The total capital budget for the Strabane leisure project is currently assessed at approximately £42 million. This contributes to the broader circa £115 million Canal Basin redevelopment, which is supported by the City Deal, the Inclusive Future Fund, and Council investment.

Members of Council gave their approval to the finalised facility mix and the associated capital budget and were supportive of efforts to finalise the purchase of the DfI building and the beginning of site clearance works on the site.

It was also noted that the coordinating of designs with City Deal partners to ensure site alignment was ongoing as well as the conclusion of all statutory engagement before submitting a formal planning application.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Ruairí McHugh who chaired the meeting, said a lot of work has gone into getting the project to this stage.

He said: "By listening to our local swimming and squash communities, we have successfully balanced a more ambitious facility mix, including the 8-lane pool, with the technical challenges of a constrained site. We are moving forward with a design that is not only high-performing in terms of energy efficiency but will serve as a premier health and wellness hub for generations to come."

Elected members approved the recommendations that included noting the project’s progress to date and the next steps. A key recommendation was the formal endorsement of the proposed facility mix and the approval of the current assessment of the capital budget, totalling approximately £42m, required to deliver this high-spec leisure facility.

The report is available in full here – Report 4 -Strabane Strategic Leisure.pdf.