Ballyholme Yacht Club Water Sports Centre

We believe this peninsula affords the opportunity to create a state-of-the-art destination for sports and relaxation; a waterfront park to rival the best in Europe.

It is home to Ballyholme Yacht Club (BYC), which has been identified as the preferred location within Northern Ireland for major sailing and water sports events by the Royal Yachting Association. The redevelopment of BYC would provide Bangor with a world class facility for water sports and the ability to host international events.

Supporting this, we propose to enhance the area as a hub for residents and visitors alike with new facilities and promenades.  

This summer, a major milestone in the BWF Programme was reached as Council Members approved the development agreement for Ballyholme Yacht Club.  The Club's members also overwhelmingly voted to proceed with the redevelopment, giving the go ahead for the initial stage of the process to begin.  Ballyholme Yacht Club Watersports Centre will now be the first of the five projects within Council's Belfast Region City Deal-funded Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment Programme to get underway. 

Following an extensive tender process, a design team led by Northern Ireland based WH Stephens was appointed to manage, design and deliver the Ballyholme Yacht Club project and associated consultation process.  Work on the design, stakeholder engagement and consultation strategy has already begun, while construction is expected to be completed by 2028.

The redevelopment will enhance Ballyholme Yacht Club's facilities, creating a state-of-the-art destination for water sports for the whole local community, and for Northern Ireland. The aspiration is to widen public participation across all ages and abilities. This aligns with Council's objectives under the Belfast Region City Deal to increase community participation in water sports, attract more visitors to the Borough through major events such as this summer's highly successful European Youth Championships, and provide jobs.

WH Stephens Director Michael Murray said "WH Stephens are delighted to have been appointed as Design Team Lead and Project Managers for the delivery of Ballyholme Yacht Club Water Sports Centre. In conjunction with Ards and North Down Borough Council, we look forward to delivering the future aspirations of Ballyholme Yacht Club, a high-quality community asset in keeping with the strategic objectives of the Bangor Waterfront regeneration works programme and Belfast Regional City Deal investment aims."