The redevelopment of a historic East Belfast leisure centre is continuing on schedule with work due to be complete by the summer.
Belfast City Council has been carrying out restoration and expansion works on Templemore Baths which will see the creation of a new six lane swimming pool, spa facilities and a gym.
The project will also see the original baths maintained and improved with construction workers carefully dismantling the building brick by brick and replacing it just as it was. The chimney will even work again although you will not see clouds of black smoke billowing from it.
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The £17million project is due to be completed by summer 2022 and it will be the sixth of seven new leisure centres created by the council as part of a £105 million citywide Leisure Transformation Programme.
A Belfast City Council spokesperson said: “The £17 million restoration and expansion of Templemore Baths is progressing well and is on schedule, with works due to be completed by summer 2022. The project will see many of the baths’ original features restored including the existing swimming pool and the caretaker’s house. The expansion involves the construction of a 25 metre, six lane pool with spectator seating, spa facilities and an 80 station gym.
“Some significant milestones have been achieved in 2022. On the new build, the roof has been installed and there has been significant progress with the internal blockwork, the external brickwork and the curtain walling on the front of the building. Looking forward, on the new build, the contractor will begin to test the structure of the new swimming pool, complete the walls and install windows in the new gym area on the first floor.
“On the restoration of the existing building, significant progress has been made with brickwork repair, the creation of brickwork archways and specialist cleaning of the historic glazed bricks. Work on the roofing is also complete, making the building weather tight, and allowing for further progress to be made on services inside the building. Over the next few months the contractor will be focussing on the floor construction above the former minor pool to create a new event space, as well as preparing for the installation of the newly refurbished Templemore Baths Corporation sign on the front of the building.
“The redevelopment of Templemore is the sixth of seven new centres that will be constructed as part of our £105 million citywide Leisure Transformation Programme. For more information visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/transformingleisure ”
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