A view of the borough

Across a range of social indicators, Ards and North Down is consistently reflected as a happy and healthy place to live, with the borough boasting the highest rate of life satisfaction in Northern Ireland. However, challenges continue to face the area and its residents.

Housing in Ards and North Down

In regard to housing its 156,672 residents, the borough of Ards and North Down has demonstrated some improvement compared to its performance noted in 2011’s House Condition Survey (HCS), with fuel poverty levels figures standing at 22 per cent; a substantial decrease from the 44 per cent recorded in 2011.

Further improvements are reflected in levels of unfitness in Northern Ireland’s housing stock, which previously stood at 4.6 per cent. However, more recent data has demonstrated that figure as falling by over half to 2.1 per cent.

Many housing challenges continue to face the area. 36,198 applicants were on the housing waiting list as of 31 March 2018, with 24,148 of those considered as being in housing stress. Ards and North Down Borough Council have pledged to alleviate housing pressure via the Ards and North Down Housing Investment Plan (HIP), which seeks to battle homelessness, fuel poverty and other aspects of deprivation in the area.

Social wellbeing in the borough

Life in Ards and North Down can be seen to be happier and healthier, with data published by The Executive Office claiming that Ards and North Down boasts the highest rate of life satisfaction in the region. Meanwhile, statistics published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) show that 74 per cent of people in Ards and North Down enjoy leisure time outdoors once a week or more.

Social challenges persist across the borough. 13,840 residents currently claim disability living allowance, according to statistics released by the Department for the Economy. Meanwhile, 30 per cent of those aged 16 and above say they have a health issue.

The residents of Ards and North Down are currently served by 48 primary schools; 12 post-primary schools; three special schools; two further education colleges; two police stations; one juvenile justice centre; five childrens’ homes’; seven fire stations; two ambulance stations; three RNLI lifeboat stations; six council-owned leisure and sports centres; nine recycling centres and 49 managed recycling banks.