Ards and North Down Borough Council has granted planning approval for the first phase of Bangor Cycle Park at Bangor Sportsplex. The approved works cover a BMX racing track, a Jump Park, and the conversion of the site's existing spectator stand into a cycling workshop and community hub.

The approval follows a planning application lodged in December 2025, roughly seven months after the project's first public information session.

What's been approved

Planning consent covers three elements, described by the council as a first phase:

• A BMX racing track: previously described by the council as national standard.
• A Jump Park: progressive jump lines, berms and rollers.
• A cycling workshop and community hub: conversion of the existing spectator stand.

What's not yet approved

The council's PEACEPLUS project page lists six cycling facilities planned for the site in total: a pump track, the BMX racing track, an inclusive cycling area, an accessible learn-to-ride area, XC trails, and the jump park. Only three of those- the BMX track, Jump Park and workshop conversion have planning consent so far.

The council and the local cycle campaign group have both described this as an opening phase, with the pump track, inclusive cycling area, learn-to-ride layout and XC trail loop expected to come forward through separate future planning applications rather than as part of this consent.

Funding and timeline so far

Bangor Cycle Park is one of three PEACEPLUS capital projects being delivered by Ards and North Down Borough Council, funded through the PEACEPLUS programme (2021–2027):

• Donaghadee Pump Track — £219,351
• Bangor Cycle Park — £1,149,347
• Castle Park, Portaferry — £186,507

Timeline to date:

• December 2024 - council selects the three projects to go forward for PEACEPLUS funding
• June 2025 - first public information session held at Bangor Sportsplex
• December 2025 - planning application lodged for the Sportsplex site
• April 2026 - second public information session
• July 2026 - planning approval granted for phase one (BMX track, Jump Park, workshop/hub)

The council's project page states that capital works at Bangor Sportsplex are due to commence in summer 2026.

Links

• iBikeRide: Bangor Cycle Park could be coming to County Down, Northern Ireland (our original report)
• Bangor by the Sea (Facebook): planning approval announcement and site plan graphic
• Ards and North Down Borough Council: Bangor Cycle Park (PEACEPLUS project page)
• Ards and North Down Cycle Campaign Group: Bangor Cycle Park