Plans Lodged For New Astroturf Hockey Pitch At Coleraine Grammar School

Proposals have been submitted to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council for a new all-weather AstroTurf hockey pitch at Coleraine Grammar School’s Castlerock Road campus.

The development would see the school’s existing rugby pitch replaced with a purpose-built artificial surface, complete with perimeter fencing and floodlighting.

According to the planning statement, prepared by MI Architects, the project aims to enhance sports provision for pupils and the wider school community, offering a “high-quality, year-round facility”.

Located within existing school grounds

The proposed site lies within the school’s existing private playing fields on Castlerock Road, currently designated as a “major area of existing open space” under the Northern Area Plan 2016.
That zoning will remain unchanged, with planners noting that the development aligns with local policy encouraging the improvement of recreational facilities.

Access to the new pitch would be via the existing laneway within the school grounds, with no changes to road access from Ballycairn Road.

Lighting designed to limit impact

A key aspect of the submission concerns the floodlighting system, which has been designed to minimise light spill and protect local amenity. The lighting proposal follows guidance from the Institute of Lighting Professionals (ILP) and includes several mitigation measures such as directional lighting, shielding, and automatic timing controls.

Lights will only operate during necessary hours – between 8am and 10pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm on Saturdays, and not at all on Sundays.

The planning document states that “only six lighting columns” will be installed, each fitted with shields to prevent glare and reduce sky glow. The only nearby building affected is the caretaker’s house within the school grounds, which the report says will “not experience any detrimental impact”.

“Much-needed facility”

The application highlights that the hockey pitch would replace the existing grass rugby pitch with a “better quality outdoor space” usable year-round. It argues that the development will benefit not only the school but also local sporting groups that make use of the facilities.

If approved, the new pitch will join the school’s existing playing fields at the Castlerock Road campus, further strengthening Coleraine Grammar’s sports infrastructure.

The proposal is currently under consideration by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s planning department.