Residents’ views sought on plans for former St Patrick’s Regeneration site
Monday 16 October 2023
Residents are being invited to have their say on innovative plans to transform the former St Patrick’s site in Ballymena.
Momentum continues to build with the planning phase for the first of Council’s projects at the St Patrick’s Regeneration Site – a public space and infrastructure project, known as ‘Community Connections’ featuring an event space, sensory garden, and more.
Before Mid and East Antrim Borough Council submits their planning application for this project, they would like to invite local residents and any other interested parties to a public consultation day to discuss the development of the designs on Wednesday 25 October from 12noon - 7pm at Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena.
A full planning application is currently being prepared for the ‘Community Connections’ project at St Patrick’s. The central element of the proposal is a new public event space, designed to provide a focus for the wider St Patrick’s development and a shared place for community activity.
This space will be complemented by a sensory garden and an interpretative area which will communicate the history of the site. Plans for the interpretative area include the construction of a replica Clock Tower that once stood on the site, using brick salvaged from buildings previously occupying the site.
An upgraded path and carriageway network along with a new mobility hub will help to improve connections between the St Patrick’s site and Ballymena town centre, as well as nearby residential areas. A new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Braid will extend these connections into the recreational parkland around the Ecos Hub.
The St Patrick’s Regeneration project, led by the Department for Communities, has begun to transform this key location spanning 15 hectares close to the centre of Ballymena. St Patrick’s Link road - a key piece of infrastructure - central to unlocking access to the regeneration site is now open.
Radius Housing is progressing at pace with their new development at St Patrick’s which will see construction of 135 mixed tenure residential properties providing shared housing for all. Northern Regional College also continues to make impressive progress with their new campus at Farm Lodge.
Council is working with these key partners and others to deliver a high quality, mixed-use development at St Patrick’s - aiming to create a wide range of social, economic and cultural benefits across the Borough. In addition to the ‘Community Connections’ project Council are also developing proposals for three new buildings at St Patrick’s; the i4C Innovation and Cleantech Centre; a leisure, health and wellbeing centre and an office building.
You can view the latest designs for the ‘Community Connections’ project on our website. Comments on the proposals can be uploaded through a survey at this web address or by emailing: stpatricksregeneration@midandeastantrim.gov.uk
Written submissions can be forwarded by post clearly marked ‘St Patrick’s Regeneration’ to: Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, The Braid, 1-29 Bridge Street, Ballymena, BT43 5EJ.
Deadline for feedback is Wednesday, 22 November 2023, at 6pm.