What Is Neighbourhood Renewal?

In June 2003, Government launched “People and Place – A strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal” This long term (7-10 year) strategy was designed to target those communities throughout Northern Ireland suffering the highest levels of deprivation.

Neighbourhood Renewal is a cross Governmental strategy, which aims to bring together work of Government Departments in partnership with local people to tackle disadvantage and deprivation in all aspects of everyday life.

Neighbourhoods in the most deprived top 10% of wards across Northern Ireland were identified using the Noble Multiple Deprivation Measure.  Following extensive consultation, this resulted in 36 areas and a population of approximately 280,000 (one person in 6 in Northern Ireland), being targeted for intervention.

Partnerships were established in each Neighbourhood Renewal Area as a vehicle for local planning and implementation of the four strategic priorities.

The four strategic priorities for Neighbourhood Renewal are:

• Community Renewal – to develop confident communities that are able and committed to improving the quality of life in their areas.

• Economic Renewal – to develop economic activity in the most deprived neighbourhoods and connect them to the wider urban economy;

• Social Renewal – to improve social conditions for the people who live in the most deprived neighbourhoods through better coordinated public services and the creation of safer environments;

• Physical Renewal – to help create attractive, safe, sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods.