Plans to bring the unused former Brownlow Leisure Centre in Craigavon back into community use have been halted, leaving the charity behind a proposed sports and activity centre expressing what it called “great disappointment”.
Powered By Sport, the local charity behind The Rink Sports Arena in Portadown, had been working with Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council since June 2025 through a competitive Community Asset Transfer process. The organisation said its proposal would have turned the former leisure centre into a modern, multi-use venue responding to demand for sport, recreation and community activity across the Craigavon area.
What was planned for the former leisure centre?
The facility closed in July 2020, around the time the new £35 million South Lake Leisure Centre in Craigavon opened. It has remained unused since then.
Powered By Sport’s plans included both indoor and outdoor skateparks. The facilities were intended to support skateboarding, scooters, BMX and roller skating, as part of a wider “reimagining” of the site as a centre for urban activity, wellbeing and community life.
The proposal appeared to move forward in April, when the charity announced it was progressing plans for the redevelopment. That development followed months of engagement with the council under the asset-transfer process.
Charity thanks supporters after council decision
Stephen Lynch, chief executive of Powered By Sport, said the organisation had learned that the council would not progress its proposal to redevelop the former Craigavon Leisure Centre through the Community Asset Transfer process.
“It is with great disappointment that we have learned that Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council has decided not to progress Powered By Sport’s proposal to redevelop the former Craigavon Leisure Centre through the Community Asset Transfer process.”
He said people who supported the vision of bringing “The Rec” back into use would also be disappointed. The charity thanked those who took part in its community consultation, supplied letters of support, attended meetings, shared ideas and backed the proposal.
“We want to sincerely thank everyone who supported our proposal, completed our community consultation, provided letters of support, attended meetings, shared ideas and believed in what we were trying to achieve.”
Powered By Sport is continuing to engage with those involved in the process to understand how the decision was reached. It said it would provide a further update when more information is available.
It is understood that another organisation may be in line to redevelop the property. Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council had been contacted for comment.