Wetland park at Land to The North of Glenshane Road, Maghera
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Mid Ulster Planning on 4 Aug 2026.
What was proposed
The application proposed a wetland park with walkways, play equipment, bird viewing structures, ponds, a dog park and supporting development.
“LA09/2025/0253/F ACKN Development Management Officer Report Committee Application Summary Committee Meeting Date: August 2026 Item Number: Application ID: LA09/2025/0253/F Target Date: October 2025 Proposal: Creation of a Wetland Park to include pedestrian walkways, children's play equipment, bird hides/viewing structure, ponds, dog park and all necessary ancillary development to support the Wetland Park.”
“The site is generally open wet meadow interspersed with drainage ditches and hedgerows. Taller trees populate the western area of the site close to the boundary with the former Maghera High School. Description of Proposal Creation of a Wetland Park to include pedestrian walkways, children’s play equipment, bird hides/viewing structure, ponds, dog park and all necessary ancillary development to support the Wetland Park.”
Officer report
The site
The site covers about 13.26 hectares of mostly agricultural, low-lying land with watercourses, drainage ditches and hedgerows near Maghera.
“The site also includes lands adjacent to Maghera Walled Garden. The site comprises approx. 13.26hectares of mostly agricultural land. The site is connected to Maghera town centre via Largantogher walkway. There are multiple watercourses traversing the site, and large parts of the site are low lying and at risk of flooding. The proposal site is comprised of rural landscape south of Maghera’s town centre.”
Officer report
Planning history
There were no previous applications for the site, although two applications for a business park and access road were being considered on adjoining land.
“PPS 15 – Planning and Flood Risk PPS 6 – Planning, Archaeology and the Built Heritage PPS2 – Natural Heritage Site History Although there are no previous planning applications relating to the site it is worth noting that there are two current planning applications on the adjacent former Maghera High School site. Both these applications are on behalf of MUDC and currently being determined by the Department for Infrastructure.”
Officer report
What officers recommended
Officers recommended approval, considering the proposal compliant with relevant policies and unlikely to harm the environment, landscape, flood interests or neighbouring amenity.
“I am satisfied that this development for the creation of a wetland park to include pedestrian walkways, children’s play equipment, bird hides/viewing structure, ponds, dog park and all necessary ancillary development on this land will not negatively impact on the built or natural environment nor will it harm interests of acknowledged importance or cause unacceptable harm to neighbouring amenity.”
Officer report
What members said
Councillor S McPeake welcomed the development as part of wider investment and said it would be a major asset for Maghera and the surrounding area.
“– Planning Committee (04.08.26) Members considered previously circulated report on planning application LA09/2025/0253/F which had a recommendation for approval.”
“Councillor S McPeake said that this was a very welcome development for Maghera as it’s the second part of an extended award for £10m coming into the area. A lot had already been spent on the regeneration scheme in Maghera public realm. This is the second part and there’s indeed the third part of Maghera High School development which will complete this.”
Minutes
The decision
The committee approved the application subject to the conditions set out by officers.
“Resolved That planning application LA09/2025/0253/F be approved subject to conditions as per the officer’s report.”
Minutes
Sources
- Mid Ulster Planning minutes, 4 August 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Mid Ulster's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Committee
- Mid Ulster Planning
- Council
- Mid Ulster
- Date
- Tuesday 4 August 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Mid Ulster committee decisions →
This committee's year
274 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 35 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.