Council approves next steps for Templemore Strategic Leisure project
30 January 2026
Elected members of Derry City and Strabane District Council today endorsed major progress on the Templemore Strategic Leisure Project, a transformative circa £100 million development that will bring state-of-the-art sports, health, and wellness facilities to the city region.
At a Special Meeting of the Council today, elected members endorsed the high-level masterplan and the ambitious facility mix for the site acknowledging that the project is a cornerstone of the Council’s capital strategy, aiming to provide a landmark leisure destination while also adhering to industry-leading Passivhaus net-zero design principles.
The approved plans for Templemore include an extensive range of indoor and outdoor facilities designed to cater to all levels of fitness and competition that include an Olympic-sized 50m (8-lane) main pool, a separate leisure/teaching pool, a toddler pool, and water recreation features including family flumes and a splash area.
In terms of indoor sports and wellness there are plans for an international-standard 8-court sports hall, state-of-the-art fitness suite, wellness spa, dedicated spin studio, and squash courts, while outdoor facilities will include a full-sized floodlit 3G GAA pitch, a dedicated floodlit 3G soccer pitch, three grass soccer pitches, a renovated floodlit running track, and extensive walking trails.
Elected members were advised that the project has reached several critical milestones in recent months, including the appointment of an Integrated Consultant Team (ICT), who have commenced a formal options appraisal.
A competitive tender process for the disposal of surplus lands at Buncrana Road is currently underway to help facilitate the wider development while the design team is currently reviewing concept designs using Passivhaus ‘Classic’ accreditation standards to minimise the facility's whole-life carbon footprint.
The total assessed capital budget for the Templemore project is currently estimated at circa £100m. Council has already approved a broader funding strategy to secure these requirements through long-term rates investment.
A formal consultation on the proposed outdoor facility mix is scheduled for early 2026 while the target timeframe for submitting a full planning application is set for late 2026.
The facility is currently targeted to be operational by 2030/31, subject to timely statutory approvals.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Ruairí McHugh, who chaired the meeting said: “The endorsement of the Templemore masterplan marks a significant milestone in our journey to deliver a world-class leisure provision for our citizens. Our teams and partners have worked tirelessly to reach this stage, ensuring that the facility mix meets the growing demand of our local sports clubs and the wider community. We are fully committed to this project, which not only promotes health and well-being but sets a new standard for sustainable, net-zero civic infrastructure in the region."
Elected members attending the meeting formally endorsed the high-level masterplan and the proposed facility mix and gave their approval for Council to advance with the disposal of surplus lands at Templemore to a preferred project partner as well as approval of the current assessed capital budgets required for delivery.
A copy of the report is available at – Report 5-Templemore Strategic Leisure.pdf
The meeting was broadcast live and can be viewed back on the Council’s Youtube channel.