New sports and community hub for Meakstown approved

Councillors have approved plans by Fingal County Council for a new recreational hub that will provide modern facilities for the community around Meakstown.

The exciting project demonstrates real commitment from the Council in terms of its continuing responsibility across the youngest county in Ireland and will bring a much-needed community and sports centre to Dublin 11.

Designed by an Integrated Design Team led by Henchion Reuter Architects, the new centre will be a welcome addition to the area and an integral part of the overall development taking place across Lanesborough Park. The Council believes this major project will help realise the full potential of the neighbourhood.

The new energy efficient circular building will include:

• a three-court sports hall;
• four large multipurpose rooms for activities such as dance classes, yoga sessions, Pilates, training workshops and community meeting; inclusive design changing facilities; and
• parking provision for 40 bicycles, including electric bikes, cargo bikes and scooters.

Around the recreation hub there will be pedestrianised walkways and cycle paths to help encourage greater active travel in the community, alongside landscape gardening that will include a unique raingarden to increase biodiversity. This will be in addition to the wider development of Lanesborough Park which will deliver play & fitness spaces, a community and sensory Garden, a central avenue for community events and a viewing terrace that will function as a place to watch sports matches and additional seating.

Mayor of Fingal County Council Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh said: “This is a great addition for the people of Meakstown. By building a modern multipurpose facility, we want to help meet the needs of the local community in an all-inclusive way. Alongside the centre itself, the redevelopment of the park to create a place for people to come to relax and exercise will hugely beneficial.”

Robert Burns, Director of Housing and Community Development at Fingal County Council, said: “It is wonderful to see the new sports and community hub for Meakstown has been approved. The architecturally-designed facility promotes sustainability and climate action and will be an attractive addition to the built environment. This investment will be hugely important for the continued development of the area and I have no doubt it’ll make a significant difference to the area and local residents.”

It is expected that a contractor will be appointed by late 2022, with work to commence on the sports centre to begin early 2023. Meanwhile the detailed design and procurement of the main park infrastructure for Lanesborough park will follow in 2022 and 2023 and will be linked to the Council’s Capital Programme.