Leading commercial property agent CBRE NI and global professional services company Turner & Townsend have officially launched United By Sport, a multi-stakeholder body focused on maximising the economic and community regeneration potential of sports infrastructure, in Northern Ireland.
Senior representatives from a number of sports organisations – including the Irish FA, Ulster GAA, Ulster Rugby, Athletics NI and the Northern Ireland Football League – attended the first meeting of the new initiative, the aim of which was to provide a forum for key stakeholders to help shape how Northern Ireland makes the most of the benefits of sports-led regeneration.
The session, which took place at Custom House in Belfast, saw Graham Fitzgerald, the Irish FA’s Chief Operating Officer, present on the governing body’s plans for a National Football Centre at Galgorm, providing insight into its development, impact and future potential as a catalyst for growth.
The inaugural meeting also included a presentation from Robert Woodley, Sports Lead for Programme Advisory at Turner & Townsend, who has already led on the United By Sport initiative in the North-East of England and the Midlands. Robert delivered insights into the impact being made in those regions, and the learnings that Northern Ireland can draw from those experiences.
Robert Ditty, Executive Director at CBRE NI, said:
“Following the success of the programme delivered regionally in England through our partners Turner & Townsend, CBRE NI is proud to launch United By Sport in Northern Ireland. The level of engagement between the sports bodies at the first meeting demonstrated the appetite that exists for greater collaboration across sport, government and industry.
“We believe Northern Ireland has a significant opportunity to use sport as a platform for regeneration – from attracting inward investment and tourism to supporting local jobs, improving public spaces and creating long-term benefits for communities. United By Sport is intended to help turn that potential into a coordinated long-term strategy.”
Plans for United By Sport were first announced at CBRE NI’s Outlook 2026 event in January, at which sports-led regeneration was identified as a major opportunity for Northern Ireland’s long-term economic development.
Robert Woodley, Sports Lead for Programme Advisory at Turner & Townsend, added:
“One of the key lessons from the United By Sport initiative already operating in England is that meaningful regeneration happens when organisations work collectively around a shared long-term vision. Bringing together sporting bodies, local authorities, advisors and government creates a much stronger foundation for delivering impactful and investable projects.
“Northern Ireland already has many of the ingredients required to deliver transformational sports-led regeneration. The establishment of United By Sport provides an important opportunity to help turn ambition into deliverable outcomes.”