The photoshoot for the official BYC redevelopment announcement took place at the club on the 12 August starring several VIPs (see photo caption). With the photoshoot done, an official announcement about the BYC redevelopment going ahead to the design phase and Full Business Case has been released. The release will also officially announce the appointment of Northern Ireland based construction consultancy WH Stephens who will manage, design and deliver the project and associated consultation process.
Although members and the Council voted to proceed with the design phase of the redevelopment way back in May, an unexpected General Election and then the ILCA 6 Youth European Championship delayed the official announcement.
Pictured left to right: our own Commodore Rob Milligan, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, Mayor of Ards and North Down Councillor Alistair Cathcart, Belfast Region City Deal Programme Officer Clare Walls and design firm WH Stephens Project Management Director Michael Murray.
Progress so far
Despite the postponement of the official announcement, the Integrated Design Team, led by WH Stephens, has been hard at work. As project managers, WH Stephens will look after the project programme and cost control. Also making up the design team are Kennedy Fitzgerald Architects, RPS (for civil and marine aspects) and Delap and Waller (for mechanical and electrical services). The team has paid several familiarisation visits to the club, including a site visit during the Youth Championships so they could get a better understanding of our needs when running such events. They have also completed a topographical survey.
Our BYC team has been beefed up by the addition of Paddy Brow, a long-standing BYC member who successfully managed the logistics of the Youth Championship site set up, and he has taken on a member liaison role with the design team. Former Rear Commodore Shore Jess Mackey will take the lead on preparing the Operating Plan for the redeveloped Club .
The road ahead
We are at the beginning of the redevelopment design process and members are assured that checks and balances are in place to ensure the redevelopment project serves the best interests of members as well as meeting our commitments to the Council laid out in the development agreement. WH Stephens will oversee a structured process of consultation, investigation, and design before the Executive agrees on a Full Business Case in approximately two years. Once approved, construction is expected to begin, with completion scheduled for 2028. The Club will continue to operate during the redevelopment.
Thanks to the Redevelopment Team
The Executive would like to thank the Redevelopment Team, led by David McMullan, for its hard work on and dedication to the project over the last four years. We recognise that their mission has always been to secure the best deal possible for the membership and they will continue to work on the project with this goal. The Executive will continue to keep members updated on the progress of the redevelopment, and engage the members in consultation at the design phase.
The project marks an exciting new phase for the Club, and is a fitting way to start out on our second century on the water.