We have made strong progress in both the i4C and HyTech NI projects.

In relation to the i4C Innovation and Cleantech Centre, a design team has been appointed, and value engineering is underway to ensure cost-effective delivery.

Elected Member approval was given in April 2025 for the Contract for Funding to be signed and Member approval will be sought in the coming months for the appointment of an operator.

For the HyTech Centre, the final Outline Business Case was submitted to Invest NI in February and is under appraisal, with a funding decision expected in October. 

We continue to lead 3 local hydrogen testbed trials as part of this project in partnership with industry, Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University.

Across the year, 325 participants were supported through the programme.

In the same time period, the programme also led to the promotion of 144 jobs.

(These figures are subject to quality assurance and may change).

A total of 34 events were delivered, including annual commemorations such as the Knockagh Somme, Merchant Navy Day, Princess Victoria Memorial, and Emergency Services Day, alongside special events marking the Normandy anniversary and the unveiling of 3 UDR Greenfinch memorials.

Initiatives such as Democracy Week engaged over 1,800 participants, particularly from schools, while both Irish Language Week and Ulster Scots Language Week saw increased attendance compared to previous years, with total participation estimated at over 6,000 people.

Following a comprehensive review of the events programme, the original schedule was streamlined to focus on delivering the most impactful and high-quality experiences.

As a result, some planned events did not proceed, which affected overall attendance figures.

A total of 27,250 attendees were recorded for the year, falling short of the original target of 35,000.

Despite this, the events delivered remained engaging, accessible, and aligned with the needs of our community and our strategic priorities.

The Neighbourhood Tourism Scheme was successfully launched, enhancing visitor experiences in Gracehill, Cullybackey, Broughshane, Carnlough, and Whitehead through the installation of branded visitor information stands, digital marketing materials, and interactive iPads.

Across the year, we welcomed 97,310 visitors to our strategic tourist attractions.

Due to its increasing vacancy levels and pressing regeneration needs, Larne was selected as a pilot area under our 2024 borough-wide Dereliction Strategy.

Since then, we have made strong progress in shaping a focused regeneration approach in collaboration with the Larne Business Forum and Larne Community Wealth Building Hub.

The completion of a strategic regeneration report has helped identify several key challenges, including economic underperformance, high levels of dereliction, low business confidence, and wider community wellbeing concerns.

In response, we are in the final stages of designing a package of regeneration interventions that align with local priorities and support a shared vision of inclusive and sustainable renewal for Larne.

While further feasibility work, funding identification, and community consultation are still required, we are actively engaging with property owners to assess interest in a proposed grant scheme aimed at tackling dereliction and unlocking redevelopment opportunities.

A range of projects have been implemented to enhance public spaces, support local businesses, and encourage increased footfall.

Highlights include the delivery of vibrant street art in Ballymena and Larne, the installation of new feature lighting and festive decorations, and the awarding of over £700,000 in external funding to support revitalisation initiatives, including shop front grants, seasonal lighting, and the development of a pop-up park in Larne.

The Pop-Up Shop initiative exceeded expectations, with 31 community groups and entrepreneurs making use of available spaces.

In addition, 50 events and activities were delivered throughout the year.

Sound systems are also due to be installed in Ballymena and Carrickfergus pending final agreements with property owners.

The Street Cleansing Index assesses the effectiveness of street cleaning efforts by measuring various aspects of urban and rural environments, such as the presence of litter, graffiti, and general maintenance conditions.

By using the Street Cleansing Index, KNIB aims to ensure that public spaces are kept clean and welcoming.

We have achieved a cleaning index score of 70%.

Design consultants were appointed in June, and following necessary revisions to the proposed route, outline designs were approved by the project board in November 2024.

A phased delivery approach has now been agreed, with funding departments (DfC, DAERA, and DfI) supportive of our revised plan.

The project remains under review to assess the impact of design changes on the overall timeline.

Submission of the planning application is expected by summer 2025, after which a revised completion date for Phase 1 will be confirmed.

Public consultation has been completed and planning approval secured.

The tender process is underway, however, returned tenders identified a budget shortfall.

In response, the project has undergone a detailed review to identify potential cost savings and explore opportunities for additional Council funding.

A re-profiling exercise is underway to support this, with outcomes to be presented to Elected Members and approval sought to progress to tender award stage. 

It is anticipated the project will progress and a contractor will be on site during summer 2025 with a delivery period of 18 months. 

The funders have extended the project window until 31 March 2027 to reflect the updated delivery timeline. 

Development of a Green Spaces Strategy was underway, with initial planning and consultation activities having taken place.

However, following internal discussions, it has been agreed that the Green Spaces Strategy will be incorporated into a broader Parks and Open Spaces Strategy.

Work on this strategy is ongoing and is scheduled for completion by March 2026.

A total of 71% of performers at our events were from the local area.

77% of payments to suppliers were made within 10 working days.

90% of payments to suppliers were made within 30 calendar days.

Between April and December 2024, our average (median) processing time of major planning applications was 53.6 weeks, a significant improvement on the 67.4 weeks for the same period last year.

Notwithstanding this improvement, the figure remains above both the statutory target of 30 weeks and the Northern Ireland average of 39.7 weeks and places us in a position where further improvement is required.

Within the reporting period we processed 8 major planning applications to a conclusion, of these only 1 was decided within the statutory timeframe.

The difficulty in meeting the target is an issue that affects Northern Ireland as a whole and is not exclusive to us.

Our processing time reflects a combination of stakeholder delays and particularly complex applications, set within the context of a relatively new two-tier planning system.

We are actively exploring a range of measures to improve performance and address challenges impacting our ability to meet this target.

One option currently being progressed is the implementation of a Planning Application Validation Checklist, in line with legislative changes introduced by the Department for Infrastructure.

The purpose of the checklist will be to clearly set out the specific information and supporting documentation required for different types of planning applications, helping to reduce delays caused by poor quality or incomplete submissions.

By ensuring applications are valid and complete at the point of submission, the checklist will support more efficient processing, quicker consultee responses, and improved decision-making times.

We are now in the final stages of developing our draft checklist which we hope to finalise and publish in the coming months.

Verified data up to the end of March 2025 is not yet available and will be provided in our next update.

Between April and December 2024, we decided 476 local applications with an average (median) processing time of 6.2 weeks, with 82% of cases processed within the target 15 weeks, placing us as the top performing council for this measure.

The average processing time across all NI councils was 19.2 weeks, with 42% of cases processed within the target 15 weeks.  

Verified data up to the end of March 2025 is not yet available and will be provided in our next update.

Between April and December 2024, we concluded 120 enforcement cases, 82.5% of which were concluded within the target 39 weeks.

The average across all NI councils for this period was 70.3%.

Verified data up to the end of March 2025 is not yet available and will be provided in our next update.