The village retains many of the 18th Century structures and buildings belonging to the canal, adding to the character of the settlement. From the 1970s Aghalee developed as a commuter area for Belfast and Craigavon and this was accompanied by significant population growth. In recent times, development has occurred on the lands to the west of the village core.

Aghalee is currently a local service centre with a wide range of facilities including several places of worship, a community hall and several shops including a post office. The village contains a vocational training centre, a nursing home, telephone exchange, day nursery, doctor’s surgery and chemist. An Ulsterbus service runs to and from Aghalee to Lisburn and Belfast.

The Settlement Development Limit is designated to take account of land with extant planning permission for housing, while recognising the role of the village and protecting its natural setting. The limit excludes important landscapes including a ridge that rises sharply to the north and east, running in a north west/south eastern direction. This area is visible over large tracts of countryside to the south, north, west and from Lough Neagh. It also prevents ribbon development on the Ballinderry Road and Soliderstown Road.

Housing

Land designated as Housing Land Use Policy Areas will be developed in accordance with prevailing regional planning policy and the relevant Plan Proposals including Key Site Requirements where specified.

The following sites AG 02 – AG04 are designated as Housing Land Use Policy Areas as identified on Map No. 6/001 – Aghalee.

Committed housing sites (AG 02/01 – AG 02/03) include sites with planning permission for housing which have been built in full or in part since 1st January 1999 and have a potential yield of 10 or more dwellings. Details of all sites, including those with a potential yield of less than 10 dwellings, are contained in the Population and Housing Technical Supplement.

7 dwellings have been built within this housing development since the start of the Plan period, with potential for a further 10 units.

Full planning permission for 19 dwellings was granted in May 2002, by 31st March 2003 9 dwellings had been built.

26 units have been built on this site since the start of the Plan period.

Committed housing site (AG 03/01) has an extant planning permission for housing and a potential yield of 10 or more dwellings. Details of all sites including those, which have permission for less than 10 dwellings are contained in the Population and Housing Technical Supplement. The Plan stipulates Key Site Requirements for those sites over 0.5 hectares, which will apply if current approvals lapse or where a further planning application is submitted. Development of sites under 0.5 hectares will be subject to regional planning policy.

Full planning permission for the development of 17 dwellings on this site was granted in December 2002.

The following housing site (AG 04/01) of 0.1 hectares and above is designated as a Housing Land Use Policy Area. Details of all sites are contained in the Population and Housing Technical Supplement. The Plan stipulates Key Site Requirements for those sites over 0.5 hectares. Development of sites under 0.5 hectares will be subject to regional planning policy.

Sites of Local Nature Conservation Importance in Aghalee are designated in accordance with PPS 2 – Planning and Nature Conservation. SLNCIs are identified on the basis of their flora, fauna or earth science interest. Detailed descriptions of their characteristics are provided in the Countryside Assessment Technical Supplement.

SLNCIs are also designated as Areas of Constraint on Mineral Development under Designation LN 03 (see Countryside Section).

Policy for the control of development within SLNCIs is contained in Policy ENV 2 in Part 3, Volume 1 of the Plan.

Policy for the control of development in LLPAs is included in Policy ENV 3 In Part 3, Volume 1 of the Plan.

Areas of existing open space are listed below and identified for information only on Map 6/001 – Aghalee. Further details of each area of open space are contained in the Open Space, Sport and Outdoor Recreation Technical Supplement.

Policy for the protection of open space is contained in PPS 8 Open Space, Sport and Outdoor Recreation. Policy OS 1 of PPS 8 will apply to all areas of existing open space whether or not they are indicated in the Plan Proposals Map for information.

Aghalee has two youth organisations operating out of church halls.