Northern Ireland

Green light for regeneration of former Ballymena barracks

Pictured with the plans for the regeneration of St Patrick’s Barracks, Ballymena, are, from left, Mel Higgins (chief operating officer, Northern Regional College) John McClean (chief executive, Radius Housing); Tracy Meharg (permanent secretary, Department for Communities); David Porter (divisional roads manager, northern division, Department for Infrastructure); and Anne Donaghy (chief executive, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council)
Pictured with the plans for the regeneration of St Patrick’s Barracks, Ballymena, are, from left, Mel Higgins (chief operating officer, Northern Regional College) John McClean (chief executive, Radius Housing); Tracy Meharg (permanent secretary, Dep Pictured with the plans for the regeneration of St Patrick’s Barracks, Ballymena, are, from left, Mel Higgins (chief operating officer, Northern Regional College) John McClean (chief executive, Radius Housing); Tracy Meharg (permanent secretary, Department for Communities); David Porter (divisional roads manager, northern division, Department for Infrastructure); and Anne Donaghy (chief executive, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council)
By Mairead Holland

A FORMER military base in Co Antrim is to be converted into 140 homes and a £30 million leisure centre after planning approval was granted yesterday.

Regeneration plans for St Patrick’s Barracks in Ballymena were given the go-ahead at a meeting of Mid & East Antrim Borough Council's planning committee.

Also included in the plans are two new link roads connecting the site with the A42 Broughshane Road and the A26 Larne Road.

The project is being led by the Department for Communities (DfC) working with the council and other stakeholders and statutory agencies.

The council also has plans to base an Integrated Industrial Inspiration and Innovation Campus on the former Royal Irish Regiment site to give local people the skills to compete on a global stage as digital innovators and entrepreneurs.

Council chief executive Anne Donaghy said the initiative set out "a hugely exciting future for the town".

She added: "It is great to reach this milestone and move one step closer to the exciting plans becoming a reality."