Editing HM Prison Maze (section)

==Maze Long Kesh Development Corporation==
A monitoring group was set up on 14 January 2003 to debate the future of the {{convert|360|acre|km2|adj=on}} site. With close motorway and rail links, there were many proposals, including a museum, a multi-purpose sports stadium and an office, hotel and leisure village.

In January 2006, the government unveiled a masterplan<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4663512.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|title=First peek at Maze masterplan|date=30 January 2006|access-date=18 October 2006|first=Gareth|last=Gordon|archive-date=6 February 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060206224256/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4663512.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> for the site incorporating many of these proposals, including a 45,000 seat national multi-sport stadium for [[association football|football]], [[rugby football|rugby]] and [[Gaelic games]]. The Government's infrastructure organisation, the Strategic Investment Board (SIB), was tasked with taking forward the proposed stadium idea and appointed one of its senior advisers, Tony Whitehead, to manage the project. The capacity of the proposed stadium was later adjusted to first 35,000 and then 38,000 and the organising bodies of all three sports – [[Irish Football Association|Irish FA]], [[Ulster Rugby]] and [[Ulster GAA]] – agreed in principle to support the integrated scheme. In October 2006, demolition work started in preparation for construction on the site.

In January 2009, plans to build the new [[multi-purpose stadium]] on the site of the prison were cancelled, with the [[Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure]], [[Gregory Campbell (politician)|Gregory Campbell]], citing a lack of support and concerns for a net loss to the economy.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gordon|first1=Gareth|title=No sports stadium at prison site|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7856036.stm|website=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=22 March 2017|date=28 January 2009|archive-date=23 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323060237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7856036.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Discussion is still ongoing as to the listed status of sections of the old prison. The hospital and part of the H-Blocks are currently listed buildings, and would remain as part of the proposed site redevelopment as a "conflict transformation centre" with support from republicans such as [[Martin McGuinness]] and opposition from unionists, who consider that this risks creating "a shrine to the IRA".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6279442.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|title=Maze must keep status: McGuinness|date=7 July 2007|access-date=25 July 2010|archive-date=16 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216184057/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6279442.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2013, plans were approved by the Northern Ireland environment minister [[Alex Attwood]] for the site to be redeveloped as showgrounds as the result of an application by the [[Royal Ulster Agricultural Society]] with the objective of relocating [[Balmoral Show]] from its current location in Belfast.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/green-light-for-maze-prison-site/5048308.article | title=Green light for Maze prison site | publisher=BDOnline | date=8 January 2013 | access-date=21 January 2013 | author=Klettner, Andrea | archive-date=27 November 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127232308/http://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/green-light-for-maze-prison-site/5048308.article | url-status=live }}</ref> The site is now known as [[Balmoral Park, Lisburn|Balmoral Park]].

In October 2019, the [[European Union]] withdrew £18m that had been approved to develop a peace centre, due to disagreements between [[Sinn Féin]] and the [[Democratic Unionist Party]].<ref>{{cite news |publisher=BreakingNews.ie |title=Plans for Maze prison peace centre 'set aside' |date=October 5, 2019 |url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/plans-for-maze-prison-peace-centre-set-aside-923339.html |access-date=4 November 2019 |archive-date=4 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104004303/https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/plans-for-maze-prison-peace-centre-set-aside-923339.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2020, the former prison was reportedly under consideration for conversion into a temporary hospital during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: Military Advising Over Design Of Northern Ireland Hospital |url=https://www.forces.net/news/coronavirus-military-advising-design-northern-ireland-hospital |access-date=12 August 2021 |work=[[BFBS]] |date=21 April 2020 |archive-date=25 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125105845/https://www.forces.net/news/coronavirus-military-advising-design-northern-ireland-hospital |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2025, it was revealed that the regeneration project would be limited to "health and safety".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-13 |title=Maze Prison regeneration 'limited to health and safety' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwye14x7j5go |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>