A new children’s play centre looks set to be built outside Belfast amid fresh plans.
The centre, based at Carryduff Business Park, will include a range of play areas for children between two and 12.
That will see a family entertainment space being developed alongside three activity rooms and a café.
Those behind the scheme say up to 15 jobs – both full time and part time – will be created.
It’s being developed by EDM CECO Holdings Ltd, with Fleming Mounstephen Planning acting as planning consultants.
“The proposed children’s play centre will provide a range of play activities for children with a focus on the two to 12 year age group,” support documents say.
“It is expected that the play centre and ancillary cafe will employ 12-15 staff with a mixture of full and part-time staff. It is envisaged that the opening hours will be 2-5 pm (Wednesday to Friday) and 10-6pm. (Saturday and Sunday).”
Those behind the plans say the aim is “to provide a safe, secure and affordable facility for children’s play which is supervised by professionally qualified staff and which enables parents to view and, where appropriate, engage in the activities.”
“The facility will cater for children in Carryduff and the wider locality.”
It will also include 27 car park spaces and 10 cycle spaces at the business park.
In its support planning statement, developer say the plans are “compatible use within the business park”.
They say it is of a scale, nature and form appropriate to the location, will fit contextually and visually into the existing business park, will not result in a significant diminution of the economic/employment land resource in the locality or the plan area and will deliver both economic benefits and contribute to the “social and economic development objectives of the council”.
In support of the plans, Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl said that “with a significant number of families and children living in the Carryduff area, the provision of a safe and secure environment for children and families to spend time together would be very valuable”.
“I am assured that the facility will be supervised by professionally qualified staff and adhere to the highest standards of cleanliness and safety, as well as being affordable.
“This presents a great opportunity to provide more jobs within the local area and contribute to the economic development objectives of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council. In addition, it would also contribute to the need for more play facilities in the area.”