Planning application
The site is a linear stretch of existing Public Right of Way with the following start and finish points. Start: Ballyalton, Ballyhornan Road, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6RJ Finish: Ballystokes, Mearne Road, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 7HZ
Still open. Anyone can comment while the consultation period runs, and comments go to the council rather than to us.
Proposal
Upgrade the existing Public Right of Way (PRoW) natural trail surface with a new compacted gravel surface to improve the accessibility and sustainability of the trail for walking and occasional equestrian activity locally. The Programme for Government (PfG) Outdoor Recreation Indicator measures the percentage of households in Northern Ireland that have accessible natural space within 400 meters of their home, reflecting the importance of access to nature for health, wellbeing, community resilience and the environment. Whilst the existing PRoW provides a natural space within 400m of 96 households, it is inaccessible for most of the year due to wet and muddy surface conditions. The proposed works aim to make this trail accessible for most of the year by installing 1.7km of new compacted gravel trail as well as supporting trail infrastructure. This includes 1 new visitor counter to record and monitor use, replacement of 1 finger post and 2 waymarkers to aid navigation, and replacement of 5 wooden gates suitable for pedestrian and equestrian users.
As published by the council, reference LA07/2026/0227/F
Application record
- Reference
- LA07/2026/0227/F
- Type
- Full
- Status
- Valid
- Received
- 26 Feb 2026
- Validated
- 10 Mar 2026
- Ward
- Strangford
- Postcode
- BT30 6RJ
Timeline
Dates from the published record
-
26 Feb 2026
Received by Newry, Mourne and Down
-
10 Mar 2026
Validated
Checked as complete and ready for consideration.
-
29 Jul 2026
Added to PlanIndex
-
Decision
Awaiting decision
Decision expected by 5 May 2026, 8 weeks from validation under the statutory target for most applications. Extensions of time are common and are agreed case by case.
Newry, Mourne and Down took a median of 187 days over the applications it decided in the last year.
Documents
Plans, drawings, consultee responses and the officer's report
17 documents on file for this application
A planning file usually holds the application form, drawings and site plans, consultee responses, the officer's report and the decision notice.
Watch members (£5 a month) open the document list from here.
Open the documentsWhat happens while it is decided
This application is with Newry, Mourne and Down for determination, against a statutory target of eight weeks. Over the last year Newry, Mourne and Down decided full applications in a median of 215 days. More in our guide to how long planning decisions take.
About full applications
A full application seeks permission for a complete, detailed proposal in one go, with siting, design, access and landscaping all fixed at this stage. More in our guide to planning application types.
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