Stadium Plan Abandoned for Special School Expansion
A football club's proposal for a new stadium has been halted after it was revealed that the land intended for development will instead be used to facilitate the expansion of a special needs school.
Strabane Athletic Football Club (SAFC) had planned to construct the stadium on land adjacent to Knockavoe School in the County Tyrone town.
However, the club's proposal, initially submitted in 2018, experienced a prolonged planning delay.
The Education Authority (EA), responsible for managing Northern Ireland's education system, has now confirmed the purchase of the site in Strabane.
The EA stated that acquiring the land will
"support the expansion of special educational needs (SEN) provision in the area".
Highlighting the increasing demand, the EA noted that
"Demand for SEN places continues to grow significantly,"and added that the land acquisition represents
"an important step in meeting that growing need in the north west".
In response, SAFC expressed understanding and support for the expansion of Knockavoe and SEN provision locally but also conveyed disappointment over the decision.
The club stated it
"was very disappointed by this decision considering the time and money invested by the club in the site".
On-field Success
Founded in 2010, SAFC has achieved notable success over the years and is set to compete in the second tier of Northern Irish senior football for the first time in the upcoming season.
The club submitted plans for a multi-sport stadium in 2018, which were approved by Derry City and Strabane District Council in 2021.
In 2022, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) indicated it would issue a final ruling on the application.
Last week, SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan criticized the delay, stating it could not be justified and was
"holding the club back".
At that time, a DfI spokesperson informed NI that a decision on the plans was
"in its final stages and will be issued as soon as possible".
