Sports Centre plans approved

Professor Robert Hutchinson, provost of the Coleraine campus, announced the project, which will offer indoor training facilities for soccer, gaelic games and rugby, last October saying it was the largest single investment ever for student support there.

University of Ulster Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard Barnett, said its aim was to create "world-class sports facilities on our campuses that will enable Ulster athletes to compete and win at the highest levels of international sport."

But the project, which was due to be completed next year, was put on hold several months ago due to a cut in government funding.

The University though has submitted the plans for the project to the Planning Service, which were approved on Tuesday, so that they are in a position to proceed as soon as funding becomes available again.

A spokesperson for the University told the Coleraine Times that they are still committed to providing top class sports facilities at the campus.

"This is an indication that the University is committed to upgrading the sports facilities at Coleraine and we intend to do so once the funding sector improves," he said.