Practical proposed steps for Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon.
The stages explain what should happen first. They are not promised completion dates. Funding, powers and ongoing costs need to be established before a proposal is adopted.
Proposal
Keep restored city-centre buildings in active use
The Townscape Heritage scheme is reported complete, restoring historic properties for shops and homes; the Place Plan sets wider city priorities.
Restoration preserves buildings and creates usable space. The next question is whether the buildings stay occupied and support everyday city-centre life.
Evidence 1 · Evidence 2
Who could lead: Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and heritage partners; Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Community Planning Partnership.
- Start now
Check the current use and accessibility of the restored properties, distinguishing completed building work from occupied premises.
- Over the next few years
Connect building use with feasible Place Plan improvements to routes, green space and community activities.
- Over the longer term
Monitor vacancies, condition and residents’ experience so the heritage investment remains useful.
How to judge progress
Starting point: Armagh City Townscape Heritage: Council reports scheme complete. Armagh Place Plan: Plan launched; individual action delivery not verified.
Measure: Occupied homes and business premises, building condition and access barriers resolved.
Trade-off: Historic buildings can cost more to adapt and maintain; conservation and accessibility need careful design together.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Armagh City Townscape Heritage →
Armagh Place Plan →
Proposal
Give the Gaol a sustainable use beyond restoration
Earlier attempts to regenerate the vacant Gaol did not progress.
Proposed response: Test a viable operating model alongside heritage restoration and public access.
Evidence
Who could lead: Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
- Start now
Publish the business-case stage, the shortlisted uses and the decision still required.
- Over the next few years
Set out capital funding, ongoing running costs and affordable public access before committing to a preferred use.
- Over the longer term
Track sustained occupation, maintenance and community use after any opening.
How to judge progress
Starting point: Armagh Gaol: finding a viable new use: Public engagement closed; outline business case was expected in late summer 2026. Undated council page checked 17 October 2026.
Measure: A viable approved business case, funded works and continued use of the building.
Trade-off: An attractive restoration can still leave an operating deficit if future uses cannot cover costs.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Armagh Gaol: finding a viable new use →
Proposal
A landmark still without a settled use
The Gaol has been vacant since 1986; the current engagement does not establish an approved business case.
Proposed response: Test viable public and commercial uses together.
Evidence
Who could lead: Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
- Short term
Publish the options and conservation constraints.
- Medium term
Compare running costs and accessible public uses.
- Long term
Select a funded use and track occupation.
How to judge progress
Starting point: Vacant building; business-case approval unverified.
Measure: Occupied usable space and public opening hours.
Trade-off: A financially viable use may limit freely accessible space.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Armagh Gaol: finding a viable new use →
Proposal
Restoration needs continuing upkeep
The completed Townscape Heritage scheme restored buildings; its wider economic benefits have not been independently measured here.
Proposed response: Protect restored properties and check whether shops and homes remain in use.
Evidence
Who could lead: Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
- Short term
Record occupation and maintenance responsibilities.
- Medium term
Review empty units and repair needs.
- Long term
Maintain the restored buildings through an agreed upkeep plan.
How to judge progress
Starting point: Twelve restored properties reported.
Measure: Occupied units and unresolved repair items.
Trade-off: Maintenance competes with new projects for money.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Armagh City Townscape Heritage →
Proposal
Make room for homes people can afford
The average home price is £187,000 (July 2026) in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon council area. This is about £15,000 lower than the Northern Ireland average for the same month. Homes rented privately ranged from 8.9% in Aghagallon to 36.2% in Killycomain — a gap of 27.3 percentage points.
Housing costs matter most alongside earnings and the number of affordable homes available. A local average cannot tell us whether a particular household can afford its home.
Who could lead: The Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Department for Communities, housing associations and the council planning authority.
- Start now
Publish the local waiting list, temporary accommodation and affordable-home delivery figures together. Start by checking the different needs in Killycomain and Aghagallon; census differences are not proof of unmet demand.
- Over the next few years
Test proposed housing sites against affordable-home need, access to work, school places and water capacity.
- Over the longer term
Check whether completed homes reduce unmet need, rather than counting planning permissions as delivery.
How to judge progress
Starting point: The average home price is £187,000 (July 2026) in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon council area. Homes rented privately ranged from 8.9% in Aghagallon to 36.2% in Killycomain — a gap of 27.3 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 41 of 41 current wards have comparable figures.
Measure: Affordable homes completed, households waiting, time in temporary accommodation, and rent compared with local earnings.
Trade-off: More homes can put pressure on infrastructure and land. Affordability requirements also affect development viability.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Evidence: Average home price →
Armagh City Townscape Heritage →
Proposal
Plan homes and care around an older population
16% of people in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon council area were aged 65 or over (21 March 2021). People aged 65 or over ranged from 11.4% in Brownlow to 22.1% in Richhill — a gap of 10.7 percentage points.
Age alone does not mean poor health or a need for care. Accessible homes, reliable transport and support close to home matter as people get older.
Who could lead: The Department of Health, local Health and Social Care Trust, housing providers and Department for Infrastructure.
- Start now
Compare the location of older residents with access to care, shops and transport. Start by checking the different needs in Richhill and Brownlow; census differences are not proof of unmet demand.
- Over the next few years
Prioritise home adaptations and care capacity in places with the clearest unmet need.
- Over the longer term
Build accessible homes and joined-up care into local development plans.
How to judge progress
Starting point: 16% aged 65 or over; 21 March 2021. People aged 65 or over ranged from 11.4% in Brownlow to 22.1% in Richhill — a gap of 10.7 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 41 of 41 current wards have comparable figures.
Measure: Waits for home adaptations and care, avoidable hospital stays, and accessible homes delivered.
Trade-off: Services need skilled staff and ongoing funding. Age profiles alone cannot measure unmet care need.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Evidence: People aged 65 or over →
Proposal
Bring support closer to people in poor health
6.9% of people reported bad or very bad health in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon council area (21 March 2021). Across Northern Ireland, the figure was 7.7%. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 4% in Hamiltonsbawn to 12.8% in Shankill — a gap of 8.8 percentage points.
This is how residents described their health in the census. It can reveal differences between neighbourhoods, but does not diagnose illness or measure current waiting times. Age profiles differ between places, so these shares do not measure service quality.
Who could lead: The local Health and Social Care Trust, Public Health Agency, employers and community organisations.
- Start now
Use neighbourhood evidence to find where poor health and barriers to services overlap. Start by checking the different needs in Shankill and Hamiltonsbawn; census differences are not proof of unmet demand.
- Over the next few years
Test accessible local support and publish who is reached and who is missed.
- Over the longer term
Review whether health gaps narrow, alongside housing and employment improvements.
How to judge progress
Starting point: 6.9% reporting bad or very bad health; 21 March 2021. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 4% in Hamiltonsbawn to 12.8% in Shankill — a gap of 8.8 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 41 of 41 current wards have comparable figures.
Measure: Access to services and the health gap between neighbourhoods, using comparable age-adjusted measures when available.
Trade-off: A census snapshot is dated. New service decisions also need current needs assessments and residents’ experience.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Evidence: People reporting bad or very bad health →
Proposal
Connect local skills to local opportunities
30.4% of people aged 16 or over had a degree or equivalent (21 March 2021) in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon council area. Across Northern Ireland, the figure was 32.1%. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 15.9% in Waringstown to 39.8% in Corcrain — a gap of 23.9 percentage points.
Qualifications show one part of the skills available locally. They do not show whether people have secure jobs or work that uses those skills.
Who could lead: The Department for the Economy, colleges, universities and employers.
- Start now
Compare vacancies and employer needs with training available to local residents. Start by checking the different needs in Corcrain and Waringstown; census differences are not proof of unmet demand.
- Over the next few years
Link training to real jobs, including routes for people without formal qualifications.
- Over the longer term
Track sustained employment and earnings after training, not just course starts.
How to judge progress
Starting point: 30.4% with a degree or equivalent; 21 March 2021. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 15.9% in Waringstown to 39.8% in Corcrain — a gap of 23.9 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 41 of 41 current wards have comparable figures.
Measure: Sustained jobs, earnings and training completion for residents who face barriers to work.
Trade-off: Training takes time and cannot create demand for jobs on its own. Qualifications are not a complete measure of ability.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Evidence: People aged 16+ with a degree or equivalent →
Evidence: People aged 16+ with no qualifications →
Armagh City Townscape Heritage →
Armagh Gaol: finding a viable new use →
Proposal
Target safety work where problems repeat
Mapped police records are available for neighbourhoods in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon council area.
Published locations are approximate and some crimes are not mapped. Counts show recorded incidents, not the chance of an individual becoming a victim.
Who could lead: The Police Service of Northern Ireland, Policing and Community Safety Partnership and relevant services.
- Start now
Check recurring places and categories alongside local police priorities and residents’ reports.
- Over the next few years
Test focused prevention and support, with a comparison period agreed before the work starts.
- Over the longer term
Publish whether problems fall, move elsewhere or return, and adjust the response.
How to judge progress
Crime evidence and coverage →
Starting point: Use the dated, complete periods shown in Crime and safety; keep anti-social behaviour separate.
Measure: Comparable recorded incidents, repeat victimisation and residents’ reported experience; never a single crude league table.
Trade-off: More reporting can increase recorded crime. Enforcement and support may work differently for different problems.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Proposal
Turn published plans into visible progress
3 named local projects or plans have official evidence in this collection.
A published plan makes responsibilities and intentions easier to inspect. It does not prove that funding is secured or that promised benefits have arrived.
Who could lead: The named project owners and council scrutiny bodies.
- Start now
Put the scope, owner, funding position and next milestone in one public place.
- Over the next few years
Report delivery against the agreed scope and explain delays or changes.
- Over the longer term
Check the benefits residents actually receive after completion.
How to judge progress
Starting point: The dated stages in Projects; unknown costs and funding remain unknown.
Measure: Milestones met, costs against the approved budget, and measured outcomes after delivery.
Trade-off: Delivery reporting takes staff time, but a launch announcement alone cannot show value for money.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Armagh City Townscape Heritage →
Armagh Place Plan →
Armagh Gaol: finding a viable new use →
