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PROJECT - HERON BROS

ANDERSONSTOWNLEISURECENTRE

BELFAST CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS HERON BROS KEY ROLE IN THE LEISURE TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME... A COMMON GOAL

H aving recently completed the Brook and Lisnasharragh Leisure Centres, Andersonstown is the latest tangible illustration of Belfast City Council’s investment in leisure provision. Five years has passed since the decision was made to devote £105m into updating an ageing estate, a financial outlay that surpasses previous high profile projects in Northern Ireland such as the Waterfront Hall and Connswater Community Greenway. A ‘big step change’ for BCC, it was agreed that employing a single main contractor for Brook, Lisnasharragh, Andersonstown, and the still to be completed Avoniel was the way forward. “Offering one complete contract ensured both consistency and a standardisation for the future running of the centres,” said Martin Doherty, Project Manager for Belfast City Council’s Physical Programmes Department. “After extensive market engagement, and taking

into account economies of scale, Heron Bros was appointed main contractor. That was still at quite an early stage. Although elements of design and planning had taken place, plus decisions made on the USP for each leisure centre, it was early enough in the process for Heron Bros to be at the table when we finalised designs and costings.” Belfast Borough Council allocated project managers for each leisure centre to work hand-in-hand with their Heron Bros counterparts. At the same time, Martin liaised at a more senior management level with Heron Bros Construction Director Karl McKillop and Senior Contracts Manager J.P. Higgins. “A lot of people talk about collaboration, but it’s just paying lip service. Heron Bros not only talked the talk, but walked the walk, collaborating with ourselves, the design team, sub-contractors, the local communities - ensuring everyone was working towards the common goal.”

AT THEIR LEISURE Andersonstown Leisure Centre may not yet have opened to the public, but it is still playing an important role in helping our hard-pressed health service. During the COVID-19 pandemic health workers have been using the shower and changing facilities, enabling them to clean, change and dispose of scrubs before returning home to their families.

Heron Bros 2, St Patrick’s Street, Draperstown, Magherafelt BT45 7AL. T: +44 (0)28 7962 8505 - E: info@heronbros.com www.heronbros.com

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