Plan for new cricket fieldin Newbuildings submitted

Two years ago the Sentinel first reported how a new action plan for Newbuildings envisaged major regeneration over the next 15 years with a new formal civic space, village green, cricket pitch and games area all earmarked for development.

Now the local cricket club has formally applied for permission for a “green field site to be used as a cricket ground with new wire fencing, sight screens, secure ball stop netting, LED electronic scoreboard - all to be mobile.”

The new cricket ground will be located to the rear of St Columba’s Primary School and Primity Crescent. In a 2011 action plan for the village a new cricket ground was pencilled in as a longer term goal.

It was suggested it could take up to a decade to be realised. The report stated: “In direct response to feedback received from the community consultation workshop, a further opportunity exists in the medium-term to acquire additional adjoining lands to the north east of Community Centre for the establishment of a dedicated cricket pitch.”

But now Orchard House has received an application for the development. Newbuildings - alongside Lettershandoney and Park - is receiving grant aid support for Village Renewal up to a combined total of £570,000.

A rough blueprint for development was produced on behalf of Assisting Rural Communities (ARCNW) by the Paul Hogarth Company in consultation with the local communities.

The outline plan provided for a new cricket pitch, a new Multi Use Games Area (MUGA), a new village green, a new formal civic space and the redevelopment of the former Desmonds factory.