The Orange Hall at Main Street in Killylea could be demolished and rebuilt as a new state-of-the-art community sports hub, Armagh I can reveal.
Proposals for the development have been drawn up and submitted to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council for consideration.
The application site is at 78 Main Street and is described in its present form as a community building.
The intention is to construct a new facility in its place. It would be known as the Killylea Youth & Community Sports Centre and would cover the area of the existing hall and surrounding yard accommodation.
The new venue – which would represent a significant investment in the Co Armagh village – would be a two-storey structure.
The ground floor would be entered, as at present, from Main Street. It opens on to a lobby, with toilet provision, as well as office accommodation and a kitchen/servery area and vending machines too.
There would also be changing rooms with showers, as well as a disabled access changing facility. Referee accommodation is included for when the centre is being used to host sporting fixtures.
And the main feature of the ground floor is a large hall boasting two courts capable of hosting a range of indoor sports.
The first floor will be accessible by both stairs and lift from ground floor. It would comprise a total of three meeting rooms, additional accessible toilets, as well as a minor hall.
There is also plenty of storage accommodation throughout to meet the needs of the users of the new modern centre.
It will be well-illuminated, with the addition of rooflights to let in natural sunlight. And there will be solar panels too to ensure added efficiency.
It would also boast nine parking spaces to the rear, with a disabled bay to the front, next to a ramp leading into the main building for wheelchair users.
This will be yet another development for the village of Killylea, following the completion in recent years of the regeneration of the Old School House.
Sitting on the opposite site of the street to the Orange Hall it, with the help of Lottery funding, was transformed, providing a comfortable and modern home for Killylea Silver Band, and branded as the ‘Old School Community Hall’.
This latest application for the aging Orange Hall building has been lodged in the name of Ashley Marshall and the proposals will be advertised shortly with a decision expected in due course.
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