Transforming communities through strategic leadership

In Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, the council’s leadership role in place-shaping is evident through long-term planning, significant investment, and sustained engagement with residents, stakeholders, and partners to shape places that are vibrant, inclusive, and resilient.

Amid financial pressures, diverse community needs, and a complex political context, place-shaping offers councils a unique opportunity to convene government departments, private sector partners, and community organisations to create a shared vision for their places. It enables tailored responses to local challenges, ensuring that investment is impactful, place-sensitive, and community-informed.

The role of place shaping in local government

Place-shaping extends beyond physical regeneration to encompass how people experience and interact with the places where they live, work, and visit. It recognises that successful places reflect the identities, values, and aspirations of their communities. Councils play a central role in this process – engaging residents, aligning resources, and embedding sustainability, connectivity, and well-being at the heart of local development.

In Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, the council’s place-shaping agenda is grounded through our Community Planning Partnership bringing comprehensive community engagement, strategic planning, and a commitment to delivering tangible improvements in people’s daily lives. Through the development and implementation of place plans across urban settlements, the council is helping to shape places that are attractive, economically viable, and socially connected.

Place plans in action: Armagh, Banbridge, and Dromore

The borough’s three place plans to date are tangible expressions of place-shaping in practice, tailored to reflect the unique character, assets, and opportunities and challenges of each area:

Armagh Place Plan: Focused on heritage-led regeneration, this plan is celebrating Armagh’s ‘Stars and Stories’ helping transform historical buildings into contemporary mixed-use spaces. The Armagh Townscape Heritage project, backed by over £6.3 million in investment, is repurposing 35 listed properties for residential and commercial use – helping to reinvigorate the city centre and support sustainable urban living.

Banbridge Place Plan: With vision to create a ‘Banbridge of tomorrow’ whilst celebrating its innovators and independents. A key investment of £6 million through a public realm scheme is revitalising the town centre, improving accessibility and aesthetic quality while encouraging increased footfall to support local businesses and economic growth.

Dromore Place Plan: Set for launch in May 2025, this plan will work with the proactive community sector and other partners to “restock Dromore” with economic growth, assets and life whilst fostering its historic fabric and strategic location.

Heritage and sustainability in place shaping

Integrating the borough’s rich heritage into place-making strategies has proven a powerful tool for sustainable development. Projects in Armagh and Lurgan are repurposing heritage buildings to meet contemporary needs while preserving their architectural and historical value.

This approach supports environmental sustainability through the reuse of existing structures, while also contributing to economic vitality and community identity – demonstrating how heritage can be a living asset within modern place-shaping frameworks.

Partnerships and investment for stronger places

The ABC Community Planning Partnership are helping embed and ensure strategic investment in place-making projects – ranging from public realm improvements to enterprise support and community infrastructure – is critical to the borough’s place-shaping ambitions. The council’s collaboration with the National Lottery Heritage Fund on a 10-year programme is a key example, addressing challenges linked to the built, natural, industrial, and cultural environment to create more resilient, attractive places.

Additionally, initiatives such as festivals, public art, and local enterprise programmes enrich the social and economic life of the borough and foster a deeper connection between people and place.

Challenges and opportunities ahead

Despite the clear benefits, place-shaping is not without its challenges. Councils must navigate tight budgets, siloed governance structures, and increasing demand for services – all while delivering on ambitious local development goals. The complexity of aligning multiple stakeholders and funding streams can also hinder progress.

However, these challenges present opportunities for innovation, co-design, and partnership working. By aligning place-shaping within community planning, councils and partners can create long-term frameworks that are flexible, inclusive, and responsive to changing needs.

A vision for the future

Looking ahead, place-shaping has the potential to redefine how local government delivers value – moving from service provision to community transformation. With strong leadership, collaborative partnerships, and communities who are engaged and involved in both decision making and delivery, councils can shape places that support economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and social cohesion.

In Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, the council remains committed to leading this work, ensuring that the borough’s places are not only fit for today but resilient and aspirational for generations to come.

For more information contact:
Elaine Gillespie, Head of Community Planning, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council
Email: elaine.gillespie@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk