New Belfast housing block boasts sports hall with its own rooftop running track

The facility, housed on the ground floor of the new Nelson Place accommodation block, is to be operated by Ulster University Sport.

It will feature a 600 metre square four-court hall for netball, basketball, badminton and futsal, as well as gym, wellness rooms and a spin studio.

And there will be an outdoor rooftop area featuring the 80-metre running track, along with a yoga space.

Nelson Place will offer 774 en suite and studio flats on its 11 floors.

Other amenities include rooftop terrace with a panoramic views, a cinema room, games area, hosting kitchen, communal lounges and study rooms.

Dr Nigel Dobson, head of sports services at Ulster University, said: “We look forward to welcoming our existing members in Belfast, members from other campuses, new members from our staff, student and local communities and showing them what the new sports centre has to offer.

“With the addition of this new facility, we will have a really rich sports offering at Ulster University, with green field and training facilities at Ulster University Sports Village, Jordanstown, and sports centres in Coleraine and Derry-Londonderry.

“There are facilities to support every student, individual member, sports club and professional athlete to reach their sporting goals, whether that be an Olympic gold medal, a new personal best, enhanced fitness or relaxation.”

Anna Killough, from accommodation provider Student Roost, added: “As Belfast’s largest student accommodation building, the scale of Nelson Place has provided the opportunity to deliver something really special that will enhance students’ mental and physical well-being.

“Combining high quality student accommodation with thought-out modern amenities and 24/7 on-site team members will help to alleviate the very real stresses of student life.

“Students’ priorities are definitely changing and we recognise the importance that community, health and well-being plays as part of the university journey.

“Our partnership with Ulster University and integrating their cutting-edge sports centre into the fabric of Nelson Place will be transformational for students.”

Ulster University provost Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan believes the new centre will be a major boost.

“This is a really exciting opportunity for student club sport, School of Sport teaching delivery, and current and future sport centre members in Belfast, as well as offering a new city centre event space for the university during the summer recess.

“Sport is a key facet of our university community at Ulster University, whether it is our rich sports research offering; sports scholars programme; club sport, in which we’ve enjoyed recent success with our Gaelic football, judo, athletics, archery, boxing and handball teams and individuals; sports societies, and centre members across our campuses.”

She added: “We’ve always said we would provide expanded sports facilities in the city because we’re committed to investing in the social lives of our students and staff, in line with our strategy and our continuing investment in sport on all of our campuses.”

Nelson Place and the sports centre are to open in September.