Social Value Ideas for Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

Paint scheme extra funding

Members noted the success of the borough-wide business paint scheme and agreed additional funding to issue further letters of offer while waiting for a Department for Communities variation. The report…

“So the recommendation tonight for members to to consider is to note the update on the burrowwide paint scheme to note the correspondence issued from A…”

Business plan consultancy tender

Officers said the LEP-related business case consultancy work was about to go out to tender after internal agreement on the specification. This is a clear procurement opportunity in consultancy/service…

“Thank you, Chair. Members will be aware that the annual business plan report for economic development and regeneration departments are tabled at this …”

New business improvement scheme

The committee approved a new borough-wide business internal improvement scheme to support high street investment across towns and villages. The scheme is funded from the 2026/27 economic development b…

“So the decision required tonight members the recommendation is that members approve the new buroughwide business internal improvement scheme utilizing…”

Business cost pressures

Businesses reported severe financial pressure from rising energy, staffing and general operating costs, alongside weak consumer confidence and wider uncertainty. The BPA said these pressures are affec…

“Businesses are feeling, as you all know, financial pressures at every turn, and survival rates could be affected by the ongoing rising costs and which…”

115-Dwelling Residential Development Approval

Full planning permission and listed building consent approved for 115 dwellings, 62 garages, public open space, children's playground at Tully Galley Road, Craig Island. Development on brownfield site…

“This plan application seeks full plan permission for the direction of 115 dwellings, 62 garages, and the provision of public open space, a children's …”

HMO approval at Brook Terrace

The committee approved a change of use from a four-bedroom dwelling to a five-person HMO at Brook Terrace in Banbridge after a recorded vote. The application was contentious due to character and inten…

“This application seeks plan of permission for a change of use from a dwelling to form a five person, five bedroom house in multiple occupancy and asso…”

HMO clustering concerns

Members debated two HMO applications in Portadown and repeatedly raised concern about overconcentration and clustering, especially where HMOs would be adjacent or in a short row on streets with only a…

“Speaker 13: Thank you, chair. I think there's 10 sorry. Nine altogether, one of which is a h as an approval as a HMO. Speaker 0: Okay. Thank you. Cou…”

Stables refused in countryside

A proposed horse stable and feed store near Portadown/Craigavon was refused after members followed officers' recommendation. The application was debated at length over rural character, access and hedg…

“The recommendation is to refuse and the reasons for refusal are set out in the planning report. I'll just go through the PowerPoint presentation. So t…”

Air quality consultation response

The committee approved a draft consultation response supporting tighter particulate matter limits in Northern Ireland. Officers said any additional work arising from the new regulations would require …

“Speaker 2: Thank you, chair. Good evening, members. I take you to item 3.1, which is a consultation response to DIRA in relation to draft air quality …”

Tobacco and vape controls

Members supported the draft response to the Tobacco and Vapes Act consultation. Officers said the new duties would be enforced using existing staff resource and that no extra budget had been provided …

“Speaker 2: Thank you. Again, this evening, a number of them on the papers for you members. This one, three point two relates to tobacco, vaping and ni…”

HFSS promotion restrictions

The council agreed in principle to restrictions on promotions of high fat, salt and sugar products, but highlighted that implementation in Northern Ireland would likely fall to councils rather than tr…

“Speaker 2: Members, the detail of this, there are regulations already in place in England and Wales in relation to this matter, and Scotland plan to i…”