Markethill Swifts FC has scored approval for the first phase of ambitious plans at its Ashgrove Park home ground.
The club has this week been given the go-ahead for works to replace a natural grass pitch and install perimeter fences.
The second phase will then see permission being sought for the construction of a clubhouse and a second 40m x 60m grass pitch.
The first phase application that had been considered by ABC Council’s planning committee had been submitted last year by Stephen Black, on behalf of Markethill Swifts.
The proposals detailed the “provision of a new 100m x 60m natural grass football pitch to replace the existing pitch and erection of new 3m high NK fencing to boundary, 5.7m high ball stop fence behind both goalposts and 1.2m high fence surrounding the pitch”.
The application had been referred to the planning committee as the council owns the land.
The site is described as being “85 metres NW of Markethill Bowling Green, 30D Seaboughan Road, (adjacent and immediately south of 19 Ashgrove), Markethill, Armagh”.
Principal planning officer, Roisin Hamill, presented details to committee and offered reassurances that “mature deciduous trees along the site’s north-north-western boundary are proposed to be retained”.
She explained in her report that officials believed the plans to be a positive step for the area.
Said Ms Hamill: “Officers are of the opinion that this existing area of open space will be retained and enhanced through the replacement of the existing grass pitch with a newly laid grass pitch, and the provision of ball stop fencing behind both goals in order to stop footballs from being kicked beyond the perimeter of the pitch into the adjacent watercourse, which is a Northern Ireland priority habitat, and into the residential development located to the east of the site.
“Officers are of the opinion that the use of the land for open space purposes will not be prejudiced by the proposed development.”
She explained that is the opinion that houses in the area would not be impacted.
“The existing pitch is positioned below the level of the dwellings which have views towards the pitch,” she said.
“Given the limited public vantage points, the presence of established metal fencing approximately 3.0 metres in height located adjacent to the football pitch, and the level of the pitch in relation to existing dwellings, officers are of the opinion that the fencing and ball stop fences will not be visually obtrusive at this location, and that there will be no detrimental impact on visual amenity or detract from the character of the area.”
They were also “satisfied that the existing use of the site is not changing and that, given the separation distances from surrounding residential development, the proposed fencing will not have an adverse impact on their amenity”.
Ms Hamill concluded: “Given this is an existing football pitch, officers do not consider there will be negative impact on the privacy of existing residents. The proposal will not increase the number of attendees at the pitch at any given time.”
It did not take long for the application to be approved.
Planning committee chair, SF Councillor Kevin Savage, welcomed confirmation that the mature trees were to be retained, describing it as “very good” from a biodiversity standpoint.
“It seems a very good scheme,” he remarked.
DUP Councillor Kyle Moutray commented: “This is an ambitious project and I think we should welcome an attempt to develop council-owned land and I would very much be of the mindset of proposing that we approve this project.”
And he added: “I wish the club the very best in the years ahead and I hope they can match that ambition.”
Alliance Councilloor Peter Lavery seconded the proposal to approve and said it seemed like a “very positive scheme” and welcomed applicants’ plans in “keeping the mature trees”.
He added: “It will be quite a scenic area and an improvement to what’s already there, a good facelift for that usage there and for the club and other users in Markethill.”
The plans had been formally submitted in July last year.
Armagh I had first detailed the proposals ahead of that in January 2024.
Speaking to Armagh I at that time, club secretary Stephen Hartley said: “The Ashgrove project will provide a main grass pitch which will be secured and a second ‘community training’ pitch which will remain open at all times.
“We want to redevelop the area into a safe and secure space for the youth in the area to come and play football. The community pitch will be open at all times so they can come and go at their leisure.”
Mr Hartley said the clubhouse – which would also double as a ‘community hub’ – would serve as an asset to the entire community.
“Any community groups or members of the public who wish to use it should be able to do so,” he added.
The improvements will allow for an increase in weekly matches, provide an additional space for training and the clubhouse will greatly enhance the overall player and visitor experience.
