Issues and SWOT

strength

Drumsurn has a usable community building

The replacement centre is complete with parking and a playpark link.

Proposed response: Make its services useful to the village and surrounding area.

Evidence

strength

Bring support closer to people in poor health

7.4% of people reported bad or very bad health in Causeway Coast and Glens council area (21 March 2021). Across Northern Ireland, the figure was 7.7%. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 5.1% in Dunloy to 15.1% in Coolessan — a gap of 9.9 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.

weakness

Coleraine’s allocation needs deliverable projects

The approved programme still requires scoping and assessment of individual projects.

Proposed response: Translate priorities into costed decisions residents can follow.

Evidence

weakness

Make room for homes people can afford

The average home price is £219,000 (July 2026) in Causeway Coast and Glens council area. This is about £16,000 higher than the Northern Ireland average for the same month. Homes rented privately ranged from 8.9% in Aghadowey to 35.5% in Mountsandel — a gap of 26.6 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.

opportunity

Prepare affordable use before the leisure centre opens

Ballycastle’s building and outdoor facilities are still being completed.

Proposed response: Plan accessible activities and prices alongside commissioning.

Evidence

opportunity

Plan homes and care around an older population

19.3% of people in Causeway Coast and Glens council area were aged 65 or over (21 March 2021). People aged 65 or over ranged from 12.1% in Greysteel to 34.9% in Portstewart — a gap of 22.7 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.

opportunity

Connect local skills to local opportunities

29.2% of people aged 16 or over had a degree or equivalent (21 March 2021) in Causeway Coast and Glens council area. Across Northern Ireland, the figure was 32.1%. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 17.3% in Hopefield to 41.6% in Coolessan — a gap of 24.3 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.

opportunity

Target safety work where problems repeat

Mapped police records are available for neighbourhoods in Causeway Coast and Glens 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.

opportunity

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.

threat

Construction progress can be mistaken for opening

The October update lists work still to finish at Ballycastle.

Proposed response: Report handover and operating readiness separately from visible progress.

Evidence