A proposed 50-acre national football training centre near Ballymena is facing mounting opposition from local campaigners who fear the facility will bring unacceptable noise, light pollution and traffic to a rural area. The Irish Football Association (IFA) plans to build the complex by 2028, but residents have launched a campaign and are considering legal action to block the development.
The scheme, formally filed with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in April 2026 under planning reference LA02/2026/0169/F, would include six pitches, three of them floodlit, three stands, a media building and catering facilities on fields between Galgorm and Cullybackey. Unlike most European football nations, Northern Ireland currently lacks a dedicated national training facility, making this project a significant investment in the sport's infrastructure.
However, residents have sent a pre-action letter to the council threatening a judicial review over the environmental-impact ruling, with the campaign group Right Facility, Wrong Location arguing that the council's decision that the scheme does not require an Environmental Statement should be challenged.
What are the main concerns from opponents?
Local campaigners have raised multiple objections to the proposed development. Sarah Herbison, from the Right Facility Wrong Location campaign group, described the scale of the project as substantial.
The actual scale and size of this development is humongous - six pitches, three floodlit pitches, a huge building for the media, catering facilities, for staff. That's not to mention the adverse effects it's going to have on heritage, on ecology, and the whole character of the Galgorm and Cullybackey area.
One particularly acute concern centres on the impact on nearby Galgorm Parks Riding School. Lady Juliet Frazer, chair of the Mid-Antrim Riding for the Disabled Association, warned that sudden noise from matches could pose a genuine safety risk to riders, especially those with disabilities or limited experience.
Horses are fight or flight animals. If you make a loud noise in the vicinity of the horse, its first instinct is to run away. If you've got a beginner rider or a disabled rider trying to ride it, the outcome is not going to be good. Even the best trained and best-behaved ponies will take fright under those circumstances.
Despite her concerns, Frazer acknowledged the need for improved football facilities in Northern Ireland.
We're not in any way anti-football, I completely accept that there's a need for a training centre in Northern Ireland, but I do think it needs to be in an urban area.
The campaign group has held public meetings to voice objections and is exploring legal remedies. Herbison, who owns a home adjacent to the proposed development site, has become a prominent voice in the opposition movement.
Why do supporters back the location?
Proponents of the scheme argue that the Galgorm site offers significant practical advantages. Jonny Hume, whose son Trai plays for the Northern Ireland men's international team, believes the location is well-suited to the project.
It's beside the Galgorm hotel, with two train stations very close to it. I just think it suits everybody. You don't get the heavy traffic you would get up around Belfast.
Hume emphasised that Northern Ireland is
way behindmany other nations in terms of football facilities and requires a dedicated venue to call
home.
North Antrim MP Jim Allister also supports the development, viewing it as beneficial both locally and for the wider region.
It's not just important locally, it's important provincially to the whole of Northern Ireland. I think it does dovetail quite appropriately with the existing Galgorm Resort (hotel and spa). Of course, any development always provokes a level of opposition and any objector is always entitled to have their concerns legitimately taken into consideration.
Allister sees the facility as advantageous for sport and the local economy.
What infrastructure challenges exist?
Water supply and wastewater capacity have emerged as a significant planning obstacle. NI Water, which was consulted on the project, initially recommended refusal of the planning application due to capacity constraints in the area. A spokesperson explained:
Both water and wastewater capacity issues in the vicinity of the proposed developmentprompted the recommendation.
However, NI Water indicated that solutions may be available.
NI Water has advised the applicant via the planning process that there are potential solutions to the current constraints and has recommended that they contact NI Water directly.The IFA has committed to engaging with NI Water to resolve these issues.
What is the estimated cost and timeline?
The construction cost is estimated at approximately £8 million, though this figure has not been formally confirmed. The IFA originally announced the National Football Centre on 25 February 2025 as a partnership with the Galgorm Group. In January 2026, the organisation indicated that building work was anticipated to begin in early 2027 if planning progressed smoothly, with completion targeted for 2028.
What has the IFA said?
The IFA has acknowledged the campaign against the project and pledged to work constructively with stakeholders. A spokesperson stated:
This project represents a unique opportunity to deliver a world-class facility and a once-in-a-generation investment in football, communities and sporting infrastructure. We will continue to listen, engage constructively and mitigate concerns where possible, as the planning process progresses.
The organisation said this commitment extends to addressing concerns raised by those worried about impacts on horse-riding activities.
What is the current planning status?
Mid and East Antrim Council has not yet announced a timeline for its decision on the planning application. A council spokesperson said:
The application remains subject to the assessment and consultation processes required under planning legislation, and it is therefore not possible to provide a timescale for a decision at this stage.
The council's planning portal shows more than 150 comments on the proposed development, with the majority expressing support for the project. However, the council's decision that the scheme does not require an Environmental Statement is now being directly challenged by residents threatening judicial review.
What happens next?
The immediate focus will be on Mid and East Antrim Council's determination of the planning application. If the residents' group proceeds with its judicial-review threat, the legal process could delay or alter the project timeline. The IFA remains committed to the 2028 completion target, contingent on planning approval and resolution of infrastructure issues with NI Water.
Key Facts
- The proposed National Football Centre would occupy 50 acres between Galgorm and Cullybackey and include six pitches, three floodlit, plus media and catering facilities
- Northern Ireland is the only major European football nation without a dedicated national training facility
- The estimated construction cost is around £8 million, with completion targeted for 2028
- NI Water initially recommended refusal due to water and wastewater capacity issues, but indicated potential solutions exist
- More than 150 comments have been submitted to the council, with the majority in favour, though residents are pursuing legal action to challenge the environmental-impact assessment
