The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has welcomed a £12.2million investment into the Dundonald Ice Bowl which hopes to bring tourism and international attention to the local area.
On a visit to Northern Ireland on Wednesday, Brandon Lewis said he hoped the Levelling Up Fund will transform the iconic Dundonald venue and create a further community asset that everyone can benefit from.
In April 2021, plans to partially demolish the Dundonald International Ice Bowl for redevelopment was given the green light by the Lisburn Castlereagh planning committee.
Plans for the site's redevelopment include a new Olympic size ice rink, ten pin bowling facility, children's soft play area and a primary healthcare facility.
Speaking to Belfast Live on his visit to the Ice Bowl, the Secretary of State said: "We have just been able to announce a £12.2million of support from the UK government through the Levelling Up Fund to do a massive redevelopment of the ice rink and the bowling here which will be a £40m or £50m project by completion and providing the most amazing new facilities.
"We are really excited to see the plans and look at what's coming.
"There is a real excitement about improving and developing a bigger and better opportunity for people and talking to the local councillors who are passionate about their constituents and the residents locally."
The 'state-of-the-art' and 'energy saving building' will also be home to a new gymnasium, office space, food outlets and general support accommodation.
Mr Lewis continued: "It will bring the opportunity to renovate and further improve the phenomenal ice skating facilities here and get it back to being that international standard - not just for the Giants but for people who want to learn and get involved.
"We want to make sure we can bring back international competitions both for ice skating but also for 10 pin bowling as well."
Local authorities hope that work can begin on the redevelopment in 2022.
"It is huge - you are going to have 60 more jobs potentially through the facility itself and up to 400 jobs involved in the construction.
"I think ultimately that wider benefit of having international ice skating and international 10 pin bowling, which brings tourism to the area, establishes again the facility of those sports here in Northern Ireland as globally competitive which is fabulous," the Secretary of State explained.
He added: "The new gym facilities and health and well-being facilities and the opportunity there for children to come to the play area makes it a great asset for people locally - we've already got 11 thousand people signed up which is a tenth of the local population.
"But also as I said, reestablishing and rebuilding on the opportunities for hospitality and tourism which is all good for the local economy."
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