FCC to apply for large-scale sports campus in Ballymastone

Fingal County Council is applying for planning permission for the development of a sports complex in Ballymastone, Donabate.

The complex will be in the same area as the 1,200 homes to be built by property developers Glenveagh Living Ltd after the council to dispose of the lands to the firm earlier this year.

According to the planning permission, the sports hub will include a 400m athletics track, an all-weather pitch, a grass pitch, a public skatepark, a playground, floodlights, three bleacher stands, 190 car parking spaces, and extensive flood lighting.

The development will also provide a new entrance to existing Ballymastone Sports Grounds.

The council also says that the local environment will not be affected by the development, and that an environmental assessment was not included in its application to An Bord Pleanala.

“Fingal County Council has concluded from a preliminary examination that no significant effects on the environment are likely as a result of the proposed development and that an Environmental Impact Assessment is not required,” the council said in a statement.

The council has also opened a public consultation portal on the project, with people encouraged to voice their opinions on the proposed plans.

All submissions and observations on the project “will form part of the statutory report to be presented to the monthly meeting of Fingal County Council,” it says.

The public consultation portal is open now until Wednesday, August 4.

Local councillor Fianna Fail councillor Adrian Henchy, who has been campaigning for the development of the complex for the past couple of years, welcomes the development.

“Very positive and enormously encouraging to see official planning notifications erected at Ballymastone Sports grounds by Fingal County Council for the building of the multimillion-euro Ballymastone Sports and Recreational Campus,” he said.

Henchy gave credit to local sports clubs who have also been calling for new facilities to be developed in the area.

“Once again enormous credit to our three local sports clubs, St. Ita’s AFC, St Patrick’s GAA and Lambay Sports Athletics Club for the enormous effort and work that has gone into this proposed world class campus over many years.

“Not only will this new campus bring enormous benefits to our three local clubs it will also bring enormous benefits to all our local schools and the wider Donabate-Portrane community.

“Should you require any further information on the proposal or would like to make a submission don’t hesitate to get in touch with me across my social media platforms or email me on adrian.henchy@cllrs.fingal.ie,” he said.