A DECADE after first being proposed, plans are finally underway to transform the site of the old police station in Newtownbutler into a hub for all the community.
With planning officials recommending granting permission for the project, members of the Council’s planning committee will meet tonight (Wednesday) to rubber stamp the application for the community hub building in the Fermanagh village.
The plans for the new building at the derelict site, which is owned by the Council, include two ‘incubator units’, which will provide serviced accommodation for local start-ups, a multi-purpose ‘studio’ for community usage, and a gym for local clubs and groups.
In their report, due to be delivered to councillors this evening, the planners noted the Newtownbutler area was currently lacking a community building.
“The scale of the proposed development is considered to be appropriate for a village settlement such as Newtownbutler and would also help to enhance the character of the area by bringing a derelict site back into use,” they stated.
“An integral aspect of the proposal is the inclusion of a community gym,” the planners continued. “This would be a purpose-built facility which would facilitate the activity fundamental to maintaining individual health and fitness.”
The report noted the “scale, nature and design” of the two units intended for local start-up enterprises would be “modest” and was in keeping with the character of their setting.
“The proposed site is surrounded by residential developments, however it is considered that an adequate separation distance exists to ensure there are no unacceptable affects on amenity and it is considered to be compatible with these nearby land uses,” the report added.
Plans for a hub on the site of the old station – which was once one of the most fortified stations in the North – have been in the works for some time, after local Cllr Thomas O’Reilly pushed for the Council to take ownership if the site over a decade ago.
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