A Better Future

Welcome to the online home of the Lough Neagh Development Trust. We hope you enjoy learning about our plans to acquire, safeguard and sustain Lough Neagh on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland.

The Lough is a vital resource and within its 151 square miles of water and 125 kilometers of shoreline lies a richness and diversity reflecting its status as the largest shallow fresh water lake in Western Europe. It is a huge and wonderful natural asset with international designations and a fascinating history as the centre of a booming local economy and thriving commercial navigation network for Ireland.

However economic, demographic and transportation changes have had an impact. Today Lough Neagh still provides a stunning natural location and an essential resource, yet in many ways represents a shadow of the vibrant lough which offered so much in the past. Lough Neagh stakeholders, frustrated with current arrangements, see a real need for change to allow the full potential of this key asset to be realised.

Moving Forward

As part of the change process the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (2014/15) commissioned Development Trusts NI to take a fresh look at how we might better manage and use Lough Neagh in the future. An expert led investigation followed culminating with sixty-four major Lough Neagh stakeholders planning and committing to a shared future based on the cornerstone of integrated, coordinated partnership working. Visitors can view the vision, illustrated in the form of hand painted images, at 3 venues on the lough shore: the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, Oxford Island; TABBDA, Ballyronan; & TIDAL, Toome.

Stakeholders articulated a vision addressing environmental, commercial, recreational, tourism and community interests ‘to bring about an internationally recognised, stable, sustainable, natural environment that supports communities through economic, social and recreational development.

As a result of the Development Trusts NI investigation and the stakeholder commitment given to partnership working local people formed a new organisation, the Lough Neagh Development Trust, to lead and support change. The Trust intends to help shape the future by acquiring and safeguarding the lough on behalf of all the people of Northern Ireland.

DTNI Lough Neagh Report