Fishermen – and women – rejoice!
For plans are in the pipeline to build five new self-catering fishing lodges at Magheralin.
An application for the development has been submitted to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council for consideration.
The site is at Steps Road and the applicant is Sam Thompson, a farmer, with the proposals representing a farm diversification development.
The plan is for the demolition of an existing house and outbuildings and the building of a replacement.
But it is also proposed to construct the five fishing lodges next to the River Lagan.
They would be build in a field to the south of the replacement house.
According to a planning statement: “The proposal is beside the River Lagan, which is a popular tourist amenity for fishing and other water-based sport and recreational activities.”
Each of the five planned fishing lodges would boast two bedrooms, together with a living area, dining area, kitchen, bathroom and hall.
In terms of access, the planning statement advises this is from “an existing adopted road which can accommodate all traffic generated by the proposal”.
And it adds: “There are no existing or planned public accesses to the River Lagan in this location.
“Nevertheless, the proposal does not impede access. The applicant will facilitate access to the river for fishing and any other sport/recreational use.”
It also says there will be no impact on neighbours.
The statement highlights that “separation distances between the lodges and nearby residents is more than adequate to ensure no harm to residential amenity will occur as a result of the proposal”.
The application will now be advertised shortly.
