The Irish Football Association has today announced the start of its Pre-Application Community Consultation process for the development of the new National Football Centre at Galgorm Resort in Ballymena.
Further to the submission of its Proposal of Application Notification (PAN) last month, the move marks the first formal step in the planning process for what will be a major strategic development for football in Northern Ireland.
The PAN and associated Pre-Application Community Consultation is a requirement for any application classed as a ‘major development’ under the Development Management Regulations.
It notifies the planning authority of the intention to submit such an application and “sets out how the applicant intends to engage and consult with the public ahead of a formal submission”.
As part of this the Irish FA will host a series of consultations to gather views and input from the local community, stakeholders and members of the football family, sessions involving NIFL clubs, the Northern Ireland Women’s Football Association (NIWFA) and the PFA NI having already taken place.
Two of the consultations are public events and these drop-in sessions will take place at the Galgorm Resort in Ballymena on 23 October and 12 November respectively.
The Irish FA’s Technical Director, Aaron Hughes, said: “We have spent the last number of months consulting with staff across multiple disciplines who will be using the centre most extensively to ensure it meets our collective requirements.
“And, given the scale of the project, we want to broaden this out to ensure as many football partners and stakeholders can have their say as well for us to further help shape this significant project, which is at a crucial stage.”
The association’s Chief Operating Officer, Graham Fitzgerald, said: “As part of the consultation process we’re keen to hear the views of as many groups and individuals as possible.
“We have launched a dedicated project website, available for the next four weeks, which provides details of the development and a facility to submit comments. The drop-in sessions are a great vehicle, we hope, for residents and stakeholders local to the site at the Galgorm to view and comment on the proposals.
“Whilst we are not at the planning application stage just yet, we’re keen to ensure the consultation process, which precedes that, is as meaningful as possible.”
To learn more about the drop-in sessions at the Galgorm, and the project, please visit www.irishfa.com/nfcconsultation
