Performance Improvement Plan 2024 - 2025 Quarter 2 Update Report p4
Improvement Objective 2:
Place - We will maintain and improve our local areas.
By:
- Enhancing our amenities, parks, and open spaces.
- Bolstering our town centres.
- Nurturing community-led tourism.
- Delivering an effective and efficient Planning Service.
Who is responsible:
- Director of Community
- Acting Director of Development
- Interim Director of Operations
Why are we doing this?
- The actions set out to achieve this objective align with the key priorities identified through public consultation. Improvements to playparks and provision for outdoor recreation (particularly for young people) was a high priority for citizens. Actions will also support, improve, and revitalise the borough’s town centres.
- Supporting and developing activities for children and young people, delivering clean and attractive streets and towns, and supporting our parks, green spaces and the natural and built environment, were within citizens’ top five priorities for making the area a better place to live in (MEABC Citizens Survey 2022).
- More than a third of citizens would like to see more access to green spaces, such as parks and forests (MEABC Citizens Survey 2022).
- Community tourism can help boost local economies by encouraging visitor footfall, increasing jobs, and generating revenue for local businesses. This can help increase civic pride in a local area and develop more sustainable and prosperous communities.
The pages that follow outline our progress towards achieving our outcomes for citizens.
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Outcome 1 - New or improved playparks. |
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Measure 1 |
Marine Gardens playpark completed by 31 August 2024. |
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Status: Achieved |
The playpark has transformed into a vibrant and exciting playground for children of all ages and abilities. Designed to encourage challenging and imaginative play, it offers swings and climbing opportunities, a zipline, and the main feature, an impressive ship, allows children to experience adventure on the high seas. |
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Measure 2 |
Larne Skate Park completed by 31 October 2024. |
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Status: Achieved |
A celebration was held to mark the official opening of the skate park on 5 October 2024. The park features interconnected ramps and has been designed to cater to all skill levels and abilities. It also accommodates a range of wheeled sports, from skateboarding to BMX, scootering, and inline skating. |
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Measure 3 |
2 additional new or refurbished playparks completed by 31 March 2025. |
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Status: Delayed but progressing |
The designs for Bardic Drive in Larne, and Oakfield in Carrickfergus have been drafted and procurement is underway. It is hoped both play parks will complete by June 2025. |
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Outcome 2 - Greater provision for outdoor recreation. |
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Measure 1 |
Carnlough, Glynn and Portglenone MUGAs or kickabouts completed by 30 June 2024. |
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Status: Achieved |
Carnlough and Portglenone sites completed and reopened to the public in June 2024. Glynn completed and reopened in July 2024. |
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Measure 2 |
Carrickfergus Amphitheatre 2G pitch upgraded to 3G by 31 July 2024. |
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Status: Achieved |
The pitch upgrade is complete. |
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Measure 3 |
Phase 1 of the Cullybackey to Galgorm Greenway completed by 30 September 2025. |
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Status: Delayed but progressing |
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the greenway route has been updated, with outline designs agreed by the project board in November 2024. Phasing options are being considered due to cost implications. The Economic Appraisal will be updated in due course, and detailed designs and the submission of the Planning application will continue to progress. The impact on the project timescale is currently unknown. |
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Measure 4 |
Development of Carnfunnock Country Park completed by 31 March 2026. |
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Status: On track |
Planning approval has been granted, and procurement is underway. It is anticipated the contractor will be on site in January 2025. |
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Outcome 3 - Delivery of the Town Centre Revitalisation Scheme. |
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Measure 1 |
Sound systems installed in Ballymena and Carrickfergus town centres by 30June 2024. |
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Status: Delayed but progressing |
The sound systems have been purchased, and we are working to agree licenses with property owners. We hope to install during winter. |
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Measure 2 |
2 street art schemes in Ballymena and Larne town centres by 31 July 2024. |
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Status: Delayed but progressing |
The artwork was completed in Larne in July 2024. There has been 3 pieces of artwork commissioned for Ballymena, which will complete by the end of the year. |
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Measure 3 |
Feature lighting installed in Ballymena and Larne town centres by 30 September 2024. |
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Status: Delayed but progressing |
The lighting installations are delayed, pending permission by property owners to install. |
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Measure 4 |
Additional funding application submitted to the Department for Communities by 30 September 2024. |
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Status: Achieved |
A third Letter of Offer was received for £105,000 for 30-foot-high artificial Christmas trees in the three main towns. Another £350,000 was awarded in September 2024 for Phase 2 of the scheme. A further 2 applications are in progress. |
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Measure 5 |
25 businesses or groups utilising Pop-Up Shop opportunities by 31 March 2025. |
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Status: On track |
So far, 22 groups have availed of the pop-up shop opportunities. From December 2024, a range of retailers and entrepreneurs will test-trade their offerings on the high street. |
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Measure 6 |
15 events or activities held within Ballymena, Carrickfergus, and Larne town centres by 31 March 2025. |
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Status: Achieved |
From April to September 2024, 16 events were held throughout the borough. More activities are scheduled for the final 6 months of the year, including Halloween and Christmas themed events. |
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Outcome 4 - Delivery of the Carrickfergus Townscape Heritage Initiative Scheme. |
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Measure 1 |
10 buildings of historical and architectural interest restored in Carrickfergus by 31 July 2024. |
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Status: Achieved |
A total of 10 buildings have now been restored to the highest conservation standards, with building works now complete at Cheston Street. This property remains subject to Building Control approval. |
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Measure 2 |
Increased floor space for retail, commercial or residential use in Carrickfergus by 31 July 2024. |
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Status: Achieved |
The initiative supported the restoration of 2 derelict buildings, and 12 residential properties and a historic exhibition space were also created. The final footage will be confirmed in the Quarter 3 update report. |
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Measure 3 |
Closing event and publication issued on the Carrickfergus Townscape Heritage Initiative by 31 July 2024. |
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Status: Achieved |
A celebration event, held in the Dobbins Inn on 27 November 2024, was attended by 42 people, including Keynote speakers from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Historic Environment Division, and the Department for Communities. A booklet telling the story of the project was shared at the event. |
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Outcome 5 - Locally led tourism. |
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Measure 1 |
Neighbourhood Tourism Scheme launched by 31 October 2024. |
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Status: Delayed but progressing |
The scheme will be introduced in time for next year’s tourism season. The rollout of the new Local Information Points will commence this winter. |
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Measure 2 |
3 local Neighbourhood Tourism participants by 31 March 2025. |
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Status: On track |
At least 7 locations have been selected and will progress in the coming months:
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Outcome 6 - Achievement of our statutory Planning Service targets. |
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Measure 1 |
A processing time for major planning applications within an average of 30 weeks by 31 March 2025. |
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Status: Not achieved |
Between April and September, our average (median) processing time for major planning applications was 47.2 weeks, with zero cases processed within the target 30 weeks. The average processing time across all NI councils for this period was 42 weeks, with approximately 41% of cases processed within the target 30 weeks. Officers within our Planning department are proactively looking at measures to try to positively impact processing times moving forward. |
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Measure 2 |
A processing time for local planning applications within an average of 15 weeks by 31 March 2025. |
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Status: On track |
Between April and September, we processed in excess of 300 local planning applications. Our average (median) processing time for these applications was 6.1 weeks, with approximately 80% of cases processed within the target 15 weeks, placing us as the top performing council for this measure. The average processing time across all NI councils for this period was 18.8 weeks, with approximately 42% of cases processed within the target 15 weeks. |
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Measure 3 |
At least 70% of enforcement cases concluded within 39 weeks by 31 March 2025. |
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Status: On track |
Between April and September, we concluded 93 enforcement cases, approximately 78% of which were concluded within the target 39 weeks. The average across all NI councils for this period was approximately 68%. |