A planning application for an Irish FA National Football Centre on land near Fenaghy Road between Galgorm and Cullybackey has drawn 110 representations in support and 64 in objection, but statutory bodies have raised significant technical hurdles that remain unresolved.

The proposal, reference LA02/2026/0169/F, seeks permission for six pitches (five outdoor and one indoor) with three hybrid and three artificial surfaces, three floodlit pitches, a 1,100-seat stand and two 500-seat stands, a two-storey building with training, changing, medical, catering, administration and media facilities, plus a community pitch building, parking, access roads and photovoltaic panels.

Bamford Bus Company Ltd, trading as Wrightbus, has formally backed the scheme, arguing it would increase year-round visitor numbers, support hospitality, retail, transport and service businesses, and create new employment. Galgorm Resort, McKeever Hotels, Ballymena Chamber of Commerce, Ballymena United, Cullybackey Blues, the Northern Amateur Football League, Randalstown RFC and Netball Northern Ireland also support the application.

Seven schools – Gracehill Primary, Ballykeel Primary, St Brigid’s Primary, St Colmcille’s Primary, Buick Memorial Primary, Ballymena Academy and Slemish College – have made representations in favour, highlighting potential benefits for young people including confidence, teamwork, discipline, healthier lifestyles and access to high-quality sporting infrastructure.

Opposing the development, Galgorm Parks Riding School owner Sara Kyle stated that her business has operated for 45 years and that noise, floodlighting, traffic and activity from the football centre would make continued operation impossible. She claimed that closure would force the humane destruction of elderly horses and ponies. Mid-Antrim Riding for the Disabled Association chairman Lady Juliet Frazer lodged a separate objection, stating the development would end nearly four decades of therapeutic riding for disabled children and adults and that the charity’s combination of trained horses, facilities and quiet rural setting could not be replicated locally.

NI Water has recommended refusal in its current consultation response, citing downstream sewer network capacity issues, an overloaded sewer and an Unsatisfactory Intermittent Discharge at Spencestown TPS which discharges to the Braid River. It also identifies a risk of reduced water pressure and potential supply outages for existing customers. A Wastewater Impact Assessment and a Water Impact Assessment are in progress, and NI Water says it may reconsider its recommendation if appropriate solutions are identified and agreed.

DfI Rivers has requested further drainage calculations and storm-water discharge information. Flood modelling indicated parts of the site lie within the one-in-100-year floodplain with climate change allowance. Proposed mitigation includes opening two sections of culverted watercourse and upgrading a culvert, which would remove the floodplain from the site but increase peak downstream water levels by approximately 71mm at a road culvert. DfI Rivers said it had no reason to doubt the technical findings but that surface-water flood risk has not yet been demonstrated to be effectively controlled.

The council’s Environmental Health service has concluded that noise levels during large events and training scenarios are likely to cause an adverse impact at three receptors and has requested further information on cumulative noise from simultaneous community pitch use, the number of active pitches, and noise from balls striking fencing. On lighting, assessments predict that floodlight levels at some windows of the Linen Merchants Residence and a third-party property could exceed pre-curfew limits during televised events. The applicant proposes limiting televised events to 12 per year and professional pitch floodlight use to three 90-minute sessions per week. Environmental Health is minded to recommend conditions.

Political representatives supporting the application include North Antrim MP Jim Allister, MLAs Paul Frew, Timothy Gaston and Jon Burrows, East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson, councillors William McCaughey and Philip Thompson, and former MP Ian Paisley. Their representations argue that Northern Ireland needs a dedicated national training facility outside Belfast and that the site is well located for transport links, airports and existing sporting venues.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has completed an Environmental Impact Assessment screening and determined that the application does not require an Environmental Statement. It is now considering all representations and technical evidence. Representations can continue to be submitted via the Northern Ireland Planning Portal until a decision is made. No final planning decision has been reached.