Northern Area Plan 2016
Limavady Borough: Limavady Open Space

Limavady Borough Council has identified a need for further provision of pitches for formal sport. Also, there is only modest provision for passive recreation, and the anticipated continued growth in the town will generate a need for further facilities. At present, there are almost no facilities in the south eastern quadrant of the town where almost all housing development has taken place in the past 20 years. Accordingly, the Plan retains most of the 14 hectares of open space along the Castle River, which was zoned for open space in the South East Lands, Limavady Local Plan 1989-1999. This includes 8 hectares of woodland on the slopes along the west bank of the Castle River which is particularly suitable for informal recreation, including the provision of attractive riverside walks. There is also approximately 6 hectares of more level land suitable for laying out as formal playing pitches.

The Plan has indicated two proposed walkways along the Castle River and along the River Roe. The Plan through the open space zoning LYO 01 will promote the provision of the former, whereas the latter walkway is virtually complete. These walkways if completed will provide a major passive recreational facility complementing the walkways of the Roe Valley Country Park.

The extensive private housing developments of the 1980s and 1990s have very limited or no incidental open spaces. In line with PPS 7: Quality Residential Environments, and PPS 8: Open Space, Sport and Outdoor Recreation, the Department will require appropriate open space in association with new residential development.

The Plan identifies major areas of existing open space for information purposes. Policies relating to open space are contained within PPS 8: Open Space, Sport and Outdoor Recreation. All existing open space, whether identified in development plans or not, is protected under Policy OS1 of PPS 8.

The Plan identifies the existing peripheral walkway and proposes extensions to it.