Craigavon has been the butt of jokes for the last 60 years in Northern Ireland but since the end of the troubles it has been becoming an increasingly nice place. With modern transport planning and the desire among many for a car free walkable city why not complete Craigavon to it's original plans? It would create many new houses in a relatively desirable area and would massively boost the Northern Ireland economy. I think a second go at Craigavon could be something that Northern Ireland should be focusing on. Also it should be discussed about changing the name from Craigavon after Lord Craigavon to something more Northern Irish sounding such as Knockmena (A corruption of the townland Knockmenagh in the vain of Ballymena) so it would better appeal to more people nationalists and centre. Maybe a new city centre could be built more like a traditional high street like lisburn's or even something like the Boulevard in Banbridge with more places to socialise such as clubs and multi use leisure centres I think that's one of the remaining issues in Craigavon that there just aren't enough places for socialising compared to Belfast. I'm obviously not a professional city planner but these are just some stupid pipe dreams that I think should be thought about.
by DLoyalisterMcUlster
10 comments
Are you prone to poor ideas?
Born and raised in Craigavon left around 2007 every time I go back I see new housing developments pop up which has been great to see. Rushmere revamp has helped but I get the social elements you’re talking about.
I’d rather see a more organic approach to the housing rather than dumping thousands of units. The current approach has provided more variety over the last 20 years and is aging better than the original stock. This process is helping to give it more of an identity.
Be amazing to build more.houses especially close to motorway as well to get to most of ni with an hour to hour and half.
Plenty of other places could be “finished” too
Craigavon should never have been started, never mind finished. The old unionist government couldn’t bring themselves to put investment into areas with fenians so decided to build somewhere brand new with unionists in it.
Lurgan ahs new developments popping up everywhere too and they’re selling before they’re even finished. New builds are so expensive these days, but that hasn’t stopped them selling.
We are fortunate in Ni that house prices outside the main city are still affordable.
How can you have a city that stops traffic for 20 minutes of every hour on the main road into town? There should be a tunnel or bridge for railway through Lurgan sooner rather than later.
Finish it?
I know I’ll get hate for this but why do we call Craigavon after the original UVF terrorist, this guy was responsible for alot if not most of the norths pain. He established a sectarian terror force to rebel against Westminster democracy, before the IRA were even a thought. We wouldn’t call a place McGuinnesston, so long after the GFA/BA we need to have more empathy with each community to understand Craig was a sectarian monster.
I’ve never heard Craigavon described as “a relatively desirable area”. It’s probably great if you work locally, but try getting up the motorway to Belfast in the morning, then home again in the evening.
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