Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has opened a call for design teams to prepare a regeneration plan for Lurgan Park, the 250-acre municipal green space that remains one of Northern Ireland’s largest parks. Interested practices must enquire by 28 July 2026 ahead of a formal submission deadline of 4 August 2026.
Why the plan matters
The commission forms part of a wider series of investments and improvement projects across Lurgan town. The council’s move to secure specialist designers follows earlier work exploring how the park might be revitalised under a regional funding bid linked to the PEACE IV Shared Space and Services Programme, first considered in 2018.
Lurgan Park, originating from the Brownlow Estate, occupies roughly 250 acres and serves as a focal point for recreation, events and the borough’s heritage. The regeneration plan is intended to set a strategic direction for the park’s future use, accessibility and long-term management, and to dovetail with concurrent town centre and community facility projects.
Context: recent local investment
The procurement follows several major injections of funding into the town in recent years. Notable recent schemes include:
- £2.5 million invested to upgrade two community centres — Mourneview and North Lurgan — to deliver modern, accessible and sustainable facilities.
- £2 million from the National Lottery awarded in 2018 to support a five-year Townscape Heritage Project aimed at conserving buildings and promoting local heritage.
These projects are intended to complement the park work and broader efforts to bolster the town’s built and social environment, including measures to strengthen the night-time economy in the town centre through a newly appointed design team.
What the brief will cover
The council has invited enquiries from designers with experience in large public parks, landscape architecture, heritage-led regeneration and community engagement. The selected team is expected to produce a comprehensive plan that may include proposals for:
- landscape and habitat management;
- public access and inclusivity improvements;
- heritage conservation and interpretation; and
- opportunities for community facilities, events and sustainable maintenance arrangements.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Park area | Approx. 250 acres |
| Enquiry deadline | 28 July 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 4 August 2026 |
| Recent related investments | £2.5m (community centres), £2m (Townscape Heritage Project) |
Local impact and next steps
If the plan proceeds to delivery, residents can expect a phased approach to works and consultation, with an emphasis on ensuring the park remains a public asset that supports recreation, biodiversity and cultural events. The procurement marks the council’s next formal step in translating earlier research and funding activity into a practical, design-led programme.
Design practices wishing to be considered should contact the council before the enquiry deadline to obtain the full brief and tender documentation.
