Planners serve up approval for tennis club expansion

LISBURN Councillors Paul Givan and Paul Stewart have welcomed the decision to grant planning approval to Downshire Tennis Club for new covered courts in Hillsborough, and they are urging their fellow councillors to support the recommendation when it comes before the council’s Planning Committee next Monday night.

Plans to expand the club have long been discussed, however the project stalled due to the presence of protected bats at the location of the purpose built state of the art tennis facility on Old Coach Road.

With the number of courts reduced from four to two, the plans have now been given the green light by the Planning Service.

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The approval is for the establishment of tennis facilities that will provide car parking, a temporary clubhouse, two tennis courts and an inflatable winter cover.

In a joint statement Alderman Givan and Councillor Stewart commented, “The recommendation to approve this planning application will be a welcome boost for sport in Lisburn. We have lobbied Planning Service considerably over the last year to have this application brought forward for approval.

“This proposed new facility will enable the already successful club to grow and increase its capacity in relation to the variety of programmes it offers.

“Downshire Tennis Club has an excellent reputation for making tennis accessible to as many people as possible, particularly young people and the go ahead will provide an excellent centre which can be accessed throughout summer and winter with the new inflatable court cover.

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“Many opportunities will arise from this new development and we are confident it will prove very successful when work is completed on the site. As local representatives we welcome this recommendation for approval of this planning application and will be urging the Council’s Planning Committee to support this recommendation at the next meeting.”

George Lucas, Chairman of Downshire Tennis Club said he was “delighted” that the proposal is to be approved.

“The club is hoping for council support to enable it to continue its ethos of serving the community,” he said. “Downshire Tennis Club was established in 1937 and in 1994 was still a small village club with 100 members playing on two concrete courts. Today it is the largest and most successful club in Ulster, with three astro-turf courts, a refurbished clubhouse and 500 members.”

The club runs a variety of programmes, including working in partnership with local Primary Schools to introduce children to tennis, as well as a partnership with Lisburn City Council offering low cost tennis at Hillsborough Village Centre in July.

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Due to their increasing membership and the number of activities run by the club, they have outgrown their current facilities. George said it is “tremendous” news that they can now move on with their expansion plans, with hopes high the new courts could be in use by this time next year.

“We need planning approval to enable us to develop two new courts beside the football club on Old Coach Road, Hillsborough,” George added. “The club acknowledges the support we have received from local Primary Schools, Lisburn City Council and the community and hope to gain planning approval to enable us to continue to introduce people to tennis, a life-long healthy sport, where all ages and abilities can have fun together and develop life-long friendship.”