Performance Improvement Plan 2024 - 2025 Quarter 3 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. It offers challenging and imaginative play, and features an impressive ship, a zipline, swings, and climbing opportunities. |
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Measure 2 |
Larne Skate Park completed by 31 October 2024. |
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Status: Achieved |
Officially opened in October 2024, this park is designed to cater to all skills levels and abilities, and 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 |
With the contract now awarded, the play parks at Bardic Drive in Larne and Oakfield in Carrickfergus will be refurbished 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 |
All three areas completed in summer 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 technical issues, a phased approach to delivery is now being considered. The impact on the timescale is yet to be confirmed. |
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Measure 4 |
Development of Carnfunnock Country Park completed by 31 March 2026. |
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Status: On track |
The timeline remains subject to review and adjustment; however, works are expected to commence by April 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 30 June 2024. |
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Status: Delayed but progressing |
The sound systems have been purchased and the locations for installation are being considered. It is now hoped they will be in place by 31 March 2025. |
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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: Achieved |
A Street Art Festival in Larne and 3 murals in Ballymena have been delivered, including an abstract piece in Ballymoney Street, a giant Flamingo in Greenvale Street, and an outdoor adventurer in Church Street. The feedback received from the public has been extremely positive. |
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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 |
New projection lighting is due to be installed in both towns by 31 March 2025. Permissions have been secured for Ballymena locations, while options for Larne remain under consideration. |
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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 |
New artificial Christmas trees were successfully displayed in all three towns over the festive season, thanks to funding from the Department for Communities. Another £350,000 was awarded in September 2024. Two further applications remain in progress. |
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Measure 5 |
25 groups utilising Pop-Up Shop opportunities by 31 March 2025. |
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Status: Achieved |
From April to December 2024, 40 retailers and community groups availed of pop-up shop opportunities across the borough. |
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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 |
A total of 40 events and activities have been delivered to encourage town centre footfall and support local businesses. From October to December 2024, Halloween and Christmas-themed events and experiences were held, as well as artisan markets, a Community Craft Fair, and more. |
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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 been restored to the highest conservation standards in Carrickfergus town centre. The final property on Cheston street reached practical completion in early January 2025, and 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 12 residential properties and 2 derelict buildings. This represents an increase of 898 square feet, almost 2.4 times the original footage. A historic exhibition space was also created. |
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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 was held in the Dobbins Inn on 27 November 2024, and 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 |
Marketing materials for the local tourism hubs are being developed in preparation for launching in March 2025. |
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Measure 2 |
3 local Neighbourhood Tourism participants by 31 March 2025. |
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Status: On track |
Service Level Agreements are in development with the following participants: The Bank Portglenone, The Old School House Gracehill, The Hub Cullybackey, Broughshane House Broughshane, The Heritage Hub Carnlough Town Hall, Whitehead Community Centre, and from 2026, Carnfunnock Country Park. |
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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 2024, 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. Our Planning department are proactively looking at ways to positively impact upon processing times. Verified data up to December 2024 is not yet available and will be provided in the next update report. |
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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 2024, we processed over 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. Verified data up to December 2024 is not yet available and will be provided in the next update report. |
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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 2024, 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%. Verified data up to December 2024 is not yet available and will be provided in the next update report. |