Introduction and Overview of Banbridge District
Location
 Banbridge lies close to the Belfast Metropolitan Area and sits on the main strategic ‘Eastern Sea Board Corridor’ route from Belfast to Dublin. It is within easy reach of the Island’s Ports and Airports, just forty-five minutes from Belfast Port and Belfast City Airport, and less than two hours from Dublin Airport. The port at Warrenpoint is also just 40minutes away.
The District covers approximately 180 sq miles, stretching from Dromore in the north to Rathfriland in the south and from Gilford in the west to Ballyward in the east. The main town is Banbridge, followed by Dromore, Rathfriland and Gilford.
People
The population of Banbridge District has seen a significant increase since the early nineties. In the 10 years since 1991 the District’s population has increased by 24%, (NI growth over the same period was 6.8%). At present there are approximately 42,400 inhabitants (spread across 15,188 households, with an average household size of 2.71 compared to 2.65 for NI) This represents 2.5% of the total population of Northern Ireland.
In terms of population density Banbridge is below the NI average with 91 persons per square kilometre for the District, compared to the Northern Ireland average of 119. Age structure analysis indicates the population is more skewed towards the economically active 16-64 age group, (63.8%). There is an equal gender balance in the District. Approximately half of the population live in rural areas and small villages.
(All statistics taken from NISRA 2001 Census figures)
Deprivation
Banbridge District Council ranks 21st most deprived out of all 26 Council areas (‘Measures of Deprivation in Northern Ireland’ by Noble et al, June 2000). When compared to its Local Government Audit grouping, Banbridge is less deprived than all of its counterparts. Banbridge District ranks 19th out of 26 for Income and Employment deprivation and has no wards falling within the most economically deprived 10% of Northern Ireland. There are identifiable pockets of deprivation within the District, which are highlighted in the Noble indices of Access to Services and Education.
(All statistics taken from Noble Report)
Employment
Banbridge District does not have a high degree of long-term unemployment. However overall unemployment is not evenly distributed through the District with some wards experiencing higher levels of than others.
Recognised as a Key Service Centre, it is unsurprising to find that the highest level of employment is found in the service sector (68%), followed by the manufacturing sector (16%), the construction sector (12%), Agriculture (5%) and other (2%). The manufacturing and construction sectors are male dominated employers.
Agriculture
Agriculture, forestry and fishing are important elements of the local economy. There are 29,891 active, mostly family run, farm businesses in Northern Ireland with an average farm size of 29.6 hectares (June 2000). Banbridge District Council area accounts for 4% or 1,186 of these farms - this is the 11th highest number of farms in Northern Ireland. The average size of farms in the district (30.2 hectares) is slightly smaller than that for Northern Ireland average(31.4 hectares). The agriculture labour force in Banbridge stands at a figure of 2,274, 11th highest out of the 26 Council areas. 83% of farms in the District are classed as small or very small and 14% as medium and 3% as large. In the Banbridge District 37,877 hectares are used for farming purposes of which, 84% is under grass, 10% under crops, 4% under rough grazing and 2% classified as ‘other land’. The most common farm types in the area are cattle and sheep and dairy; 4% of farms in the Banbridge district grow cereals. Within Banbridge there a partnership approach to the development & support of the rural economy through the Rural Down Partnership and the Mourne Natural Resource Rural Tourism Initiative.
(Statistics from DARD website)
Environment
Given increased environmental obligations on the business community and the cost effectiveness of adhering to environmentally friendly practices sustainable environmental management has become a key focus for the area. Banbridge District Council recognises the impact of this issue upon local job creation and is keen to deliver on this function. The Brown Bin Scheme is a notable example - between April & June 2003 almost 1000 tonnes of organic waste was collected from Brown Bins. Banbridge Town was voted cleanest town in the Northern Ireland Town Centre Cleanliness Survey 2003. Through the Town Centre Regeneration Strategy it is hoped that dereliction within the main towns will be reduced by 5%.
Within the Banbridge District 90% of rivers are classified as ‘fairly good’ and 10% are classified as ‘fair’ and ‘poor’. No river length in the district is classified as ‘bad’.
Physical Infrastructure
Banbridge District Council area is well situated to access all the main external gateways from Northern Ireland. The Southern Road Service Division serves the area. The area has 7% of the total road length of Northern Ireland but has no motorway. It does however have 21.8 km of dual carriageway, the largest of all 26 Council areas. The A1 is one of the busiest roads in Northern Ireland, carrying an estimated 19,000 vehicles daily. It is the main route linking Belfast to Dublin and is a significant transportation route for business between Ireland & the rest of Europe. The upgrading of the A1 (costing approximately 20 million) is one of a number of proposed works. Sixty percent of the roads within the District are ‘Unclassified’ – the 10th highest out of all 26 council areas. The District provides the 6th lowest number of car parking spaces in Northern Ireland – 308 or 2% and all spaces are DRD operated with no private sector involvement.
Housing
Banbridge District Council area has an estimated current total housing stock of 15188, increased from 13660 in 1996, with 511 new build starts in 2002. A housing growth indicator of 4000 units has been allocated to the District for the period 1998-2015.
Owner occupation is high with 75.9% of houses within the District falling into this classification and there is a Housing Executive stock of 2092. A house condition survey carried out by the Housing Executive in 2001 has indicated that unfitness levels have decreased from 8.9% in 1996 to 5.3% in 2001. This is still above the Northern Ireland average of 4.9%
The average house price in the District is £95,244, compared to the Northern Ireland average of £79,710. From February, 2003 rates in the District increased by 6.9%; currently the rates are:
£130.80 for domestic use; £18.48 for non-domestic use
The Economy
In the Banbridge District 93% of registered businesses have fewer than 10 employees, -99.2% of Banbridge businesses employ less than 50 employees, only 1 business has more than 200 employees. In 2002/03, 1,770 enterprises were registered for VAT compared to 1,705 recorded in 1999/00. Agriculture dominates the economy with 44% of businesses registered for VAT falling within this sector. Construction and Retail are the next highest with 16% and 8% respectively.
In the year 1999/00 18 small firms were created under the Northern Ireland Business Start Programme, delivered by Banbridge Enterprise Centre. Current targets for the 2003/04 year stand at 75 business starts, representing a notable increase in the number of new starts receiving assistance in the area.
There is a demand for 33,000 square feet of additional workspace by existing small companies in the area. The Enterprise and Business Centre is currently fully occupied & a new extension at the Enterprise Centre will accommodate a further 12,500 Sq Ft of workspace.
The average gross weekly earnings in the Banbridge District is £361.70. According to the Northern Ireland New Earnings Survey (April 2003) Banbridge ranks 11th lowest of all Council areas (DETI New Earnings Survey 2003).
There are a number of major developments in the District including major new developments at Gilford Mill and Bridgewater Park, which together have the potential to create 3,600 jobs. Work on Phase one of the 130,000 Sq ft development at Gilford Mill has commenced. The £25 million project is set to attract 1.87 million visitors annually.
Banbridge has seen a number of redundancies, particularly in the Manufacturing (Textile) Sector. According to DETI (2003) 241 persons were made redundant between June 2002 & May 2003, accounting for 4.3% of total Northern Ireland redundancies in that period. Banbridge District Council area has a large number of security force members who live within the district. This sector has also seen a decrease in the number of full time officers & full time reserves employed in the sector
Tourism
Banbridge District has areas falling into the Mournes and Slieve Croob Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty classification. The District is characterised by picturesque towns and villages and beautiful drumlin landscape and has much to offer tourists in terms of visitor attractions and amenities: - The Newry Canal Towpath, Slieve Croob, Legananny Dolmen, Bronte Homeland, Scarva Visitor Centre, Corbet Lough, River Bann and various viewpoints and picnic areas. The District contains excellent shopping opportunities, renowned pubs and award winning restaurants as well as excellent indoor and outdoor sporting and leisure facilities.
The District currently has 3 Guesthouses, 12 Bed and Breakfast establishments and 9 Self- Catering units, 3 Hotels (41 bedrooms), Hotel accommodation is set to rise to over 100 with the development a 60 bedroom hotel (Bridgewater), opening up new opportunities & enhancing the tourism base within the area. There is also a three-star camping and caravanning facility at the Council's Tourist Information Centre, located adjacent to the main A1 Dual Carriageway.
Education
Banbridge has a high standard of education. There are 6 post primary educational establishments delivering high quality education to 3890 students. Pupils perform better at G.C.S.E. level within the District; performance is above the Northern Ireland average in terms of the proportion of students gaining 5+ GCSE’s with grades A-C (23% for Banbridge, 20% for NI).
According to the School Leavers Study for the year 2001/02, the District is below the Northern Ireland A-Level average, 214 students in Banbridge achieved 3 or more A Levels compared to a Northern Ireland average of 320.The percentage of school leavers leaving without qualifications in the Banbridge District is lower than the average for Northern Ireland. The percentage of school leavers in the Banbridge District continue on to higher education is 28.4% and 33.2% continue on to further education. Females are more likely to continue to Institutions of Higher Education and Institutions of Further Education than males
(Destinations of School Leavers by District Council School Leavers Survey, 1999/2000)
Health
Banbridge District Council area lies within the Southern Health Board and is serviced by the Craigavon and Banbridge HSS Trust. Life expectancy for Banbridge stands at 78.6 years for women & 75.2 years for men against a Northern Ireland average age of 78.5 for a woman & 74.8 years for a man.
From 1999 to 2000, the Trust saw 85% of its patients within 3 months and 98% by six months – this is well above the Northern Ireland average of 77% and 93% respectively. The Trust ranks second to the Mater Infirmorum in relation to the percentage of patients seen within 3 and 6 months.
The Banbridge & Craigavon areas are also benefiting from the TASSK Healthy Living Centre, which is in receipt of £1 million funding for a range of health focused initiatives.
According to the Registrar General’s Annual Report for 2001, in that year Banbridge Council area had 580 births – a rate of 8.0 per 1,000 population against a rate of 8.6 per 1000 for Northern Ireland. There were 334 deaths, representing 2.3% of the total deaths in Northern Ireland (14,513). In total 82% of deaths in Banbridge occurred in people aged 65 and over, higher than the Northern Ireland average of 81%.
Sporting Activity
Banbridge has a vibrant sporting culture offering a wide range of sports facilities and activities. From the new state of the art leisure centre to well equipped community centres, football pitches, outdoor basketball courts, tennis courts and bowling facilities, there is simply something for everyone. Banbridge Leisure Centre is the newest facility of its kind in the province and to date has 20,000 members; this represents nearly 50% of the District’s total population. Approximately 750,000 people use the centre on an annual basis making use of the excellent facilities and services it has to offer. There are 120 sports clubs throughout the District, which offer 30 different sporting activities, including many for young people. Banbridge District Sports Association offers a comprehensive programme of sports activities, including the popular Annual Sports Awards Ceremony. Many of the local sports clubs benefit from the work of this voluntary body, which is representative of all sports in the district and funded by the Council.
Community Development
It is estimated that over 200 community organisations exist in the District. The Community Development Strategy 2001, states that of these, 55% are not funded, whilst the remainder are in receipt of funds. Few however, are in receipt of ‘core’ funding (24%).
The sector is covered by three networks: - Regeneration of the Mournes Area (ROMAL), Tyrone, Armagh, Down and Antrim (TADA) and Banbridge District Community Network (BDCN), alongside the Community Relations Department within the Council & the Local Voluntary Services Bureau. The types of activities in which these groups are involved in range from Health to Environment to Rural Regeneration to Women’s Issues.
The Community Sector in Banbridge has developed in the last 3-5 years in terms of the number of groups recorded in the area and the range of issues which they cover. Dominant issues include the development of a community infrastructure, accessing funding, increased participation & volunteering, support of the Social Economy, Capacity Building, Engagement & Social Inclusion.
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