Antrim Town situated on the eastern shore of Lough
Neagh is the principal administration centre for the Borough, traditionally
serving a predominantly rural hinterland.
The
Borough has witnessed substantial
investment in public and private
sector infrastructure over the
past two decades. The rewards are
now being reaped in terms of the
Borough's success in attracting
employment opportunities, with
expansion in manufacturing, service,
distribution and health sectors
being the most noticeable. Over
the past few years' increased residential
development is occurring in all
the Borough Towns as Antrim's strategic
advantage emerges within the overall
Northern Ireland Regional Context.
Development of community facilities
and emphasis on the environment,
recreational, sporting and cultural
amenities offers an unrivalled
quality of lifestyle for those
who choose to avail of it.
The
continued growth of Antrim Town
is assured as it is identified
within Northern Ireland regional
planning framework as one of seven
major urban service centres strategically
located in the key transport corridors
and serving large catchments area.
It has been identified as being
particularly well placed to accommodate
over time, a growing proportion
of the housing market in the wider
Belfast Metropolitan Area. Antrim
has been earmarked for development
as a main hub for employment and
community services.
About
Antrim Towns Development Co.
Background
Antrim
Towns Development Company emerged
in 1998, as a follow up to the
work of Antrim Action Team. The
Action Team was made up of representatives
from Antrim Chamber of Commerce
and Antrim Borough Council.
Antrim
Towns Development Company is constituted
as a company, Limited by Guarantee,
registered with the Companies Office.
A
voluntary Board consisting of 12
directors controls the company,
represent ting a partnership between
local authority, community and
private sector interests
The
Role of Antrim Towns Development
Company
Acknowledging
the need for a focused and structured
approach to the reinvigoration
of Antrim Borough Towns, the company
developed the following statements
relevant to its mission and strategic
objectives.
Mission
Statement
To
rejuvenate Antrim Towns and Villages
for the benefit of the Borough
by means of a working partnership
between local authority, private
sector, statutory bodies and the
voluntary/community sector
Company
Objectives
The
Objectives of ATDC as set out in
the agreed business plan are listed
below:
- To
facilitate and encourage the
energizing of community spirit
and civic association within
Antrim Borough Towns.
- Encourage
the coordinated implementation
and management of public infrastructure
by local authority, statutory
agencies and others to address
issues such as access to town
centres, community safety, heritage
conservation, plus environmental
improvements and sustainability.
- To
promote a comprehensive and interagency
approach to the provision of
human and physical infrastructure
in a way which encourages social
inclusion and equality.
- To
proactively network with existing
and potential stakeholders who
can influence investment, which
will improve the quality of the
built environment and visual
amenity of Antrim Towns. Seek
out opportunities for intervention
assistance from appropriate funding
sources to support such investment
if required.
- Promote
the concept of mixed-use urban
centres, where town centre living
can add to the vitality and viability
of the retail, business services
and nighttimes economy of the
Borough towns.
- Pursue
aggressively public relations
and marketing opportunities to
present the many positive facets
of Antrim Towns in a way that
focuses on business opportunity
and lifestyle choices. Seek opportunities
both within and beyond the Borough
to achieve cross-fertilisation
of ideas to target niche markets
or sectorial themes. Emphasis
needs also to be placed on informing
the public as offerings and amenities
are improved to encourage reactivation
of town centre multifunctional
usage.
- Create
an awareness of the value of
business management and retail
best practice to raise the quantity
and quality of employment opportunities
and maintain a strong reputation
for good customer service.
- Manage
the affairs and resources of
Antrim Towns Development Company
Limited in a professional manner
befitting company directors committed
to operating within the constraints
of company law and mindful not
to breach statutory obligations
relating to the activities of
the company. Actively pursue
opportunities to generate additional
revenue, which will increase
the ratio of opportunities to
generate additional revenue,
which will increase the ratio
of non-council funding over the
three year plan period as the
company aspires towards self-sustainability
of core costs.
- Support
and promote at local and national
level the concept of Town Centre
Management partnerships as effective
vehicles for facilitating shared
visioning and coordinating inter
sectoral "joined up" delivery
of urban regeneration.
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