Council launches Bellaghy Regeneration Strategy & Action Plan
Mid Ulster District Council has launched a Regeneration Strategy & Action Plan for Bellaghy.
The Regeneration Strategy & Action Plan has been developed to support the future of Bellaghy – a village with a strong sense of place, community & history.
Bellaghy has two significant cultural sites located in the centre of the village: Bellaghy Bawn which is owned by the Department for Communities; and Seamus Heaney HomePlace, which is owned and managed by Mid Ulster District Council.
The Department of Communities has been successful in securing funding to develop Bellaghy Bawn as a Writer's Residency through the Shared Island Fund. The project has the potential to be a driver and enabler of social and economic change for both the village of Bellaghy and across the Island. It will create opportunities for writers and for Bellaghy to be recognised as a creative hub for the arts.
The Council recognised the opportunity to build on the exciting prospect created by planned developments at Bellaghy Bawn to build on Bellaghy’s notable strengths through the development of a Regeneration Strategy for the village.
The Strategy brings together a series of practical, place-based projects shaped by engagement with local people, schools, community groups and stakeholders earlier this year. The need for safer streets, more local activity, improved public spaces, and a desire to protect and celebrate the village’s unique identity were the messages that came across.
The Action Plan sets out clear actions across five themes, setting out short, medium and long-term priorities. The document is intended to support local collaboration and will help to unlock funding and delivery. An exciting opportunity exists to build on Bellaghy’s notable strengths to become an even better place in which to live, work and visit.
The Regeneration Strategy & Action Plan sets out a shared vision for Bellaghy, one that honours its unique heritage, supports its community, and builds a strong foundation for future growth. Shaped by local voices and grounded in place, the plan outlines a series of realistic, deliverable projects designed to bring lasting benefit to the village.
From creative interventions and public space improvements to long term investment in infrastructure and enterprise, the next chapter for Bellaghy is full of opportunity. Continued collaboration and community involvement will be key to delivering this vision and ensuring the village remains a vibrant, connected and welcoming place for generations to come.
Speaking at the launch event for the Regeneration Strategy & Action Plan, Deputy Chair of the Council, Councillor Denise Johnston, said:
This is an exciting chapter in Bellaghy’s story and will continue to build on what already makes the village special; its strong sense of place, its people, and its poetic language. This regeneration strategy builds on those strengths with care and creativity, supporting thoughtful growth that reflects the village’s character.
Find out more about the Bellaghy Regeneration Project.