Northern Area Plan 2016
Limavady Borough: Dungiven

The original nucleus of Dungiven was established in the vicinity of the Castle and the Church of Ireland church at the eastern end of the town, subsequently developing westwards along Church Street and Main Street towards the bridging point on the River Roe. Due to the location of the flood plain of the River Roe, and the line of the proposed by-pass route defined by both previous Plans, residential development has been concentrated to the east and north of the settlement.

The town functions as an important retail, service and employment centre for the surrounding rural hinterland, providing a comprehensive range of educational, health, commercial, social, community and recreational facilities. The population of Dungiven was 2,988 in 2001, 6% greater than in 1991.

Dungiven has good road links to Londonderry 29 kilometres to the west, Limavady 13 kilometres to the north and Belfast 86 kilometres to the south east. It is located on the A6 Key Transportation Corridor, and is well serviced in terms of public transport connections. A proposed by-pass for Dungiven, following a route to the south west of the town, has been identified since the 1973 Limavady Area Plan. A road proposal study area for the proposed by-pass, with the final line subject to amendments or revision at the detailed design stage, is shown on Map No. 4/02 – Dungiven, and will be protected. Dungiven is designated a Small Town in the Settlement Hierarchy in Volume 1 of the Plan.

The development limit will ensure that any new development is easily accessible to the town’s facilities.