Neighbourhood Renewal

Neighbourhood Renewal is the Government's policy to address urban regeneration and focuses on areas that fall within the worst 10% in terms of multiple deprivation. The Department for Communities (formerly DSD) is the primary driver of the policy but it seeks to involve the co-operation of all government departments.  

The Neighbourhood Renewal programme focuses on four interlinking strategic objectives:

• Economic renewal - to develop economic activity in the most deprived neighbourhoods and connect them to the wider urban economy
• Physical renewal - to help create attractive, safe, sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods.
• Community renewal - to develop confident communities that are able and committed to improving the quality of life in their areas
• Social renewal - to improve social conditions for the people who live in the most deprived neighbourhoods through better co-ordinated public services and the creation of safer environments

Bangor Neighbourhood Renewal Area (Bangor NRA) covers the whole of the Kilcooley and Fern Grove estate and takes in part of the Dufferin, Clandeboye 1 and Clandeboye 3 Super Output Areas. The third largest estate in Northern Ireland, Kilcooley currently has a population of 2,632.

To tackle deprivation in an integrated way, Neighbourhood Renewal depends on a partnership approach and is overseen by a local Partnership of members from the statutory and community/voluntary sectors. The Kilcooley Neighbourhood Partnership (KNP) was established in 2004/05 and is a non-constituted advisory partnership to The Department for Communities (DfC) on issues in the designated Bangor NRA. 

The overall aim of the KNP is to engage in effective working partnerships with key stakeholders from all relevant sectors to pro-actively deliver priorities detailed in the Kilcooley Vision and Action Plan to improve the well-being and quality of life for residents

The first Kilcooley Vision and Action Plan (2007-2010) was completed in 2006 and outlines the following vision for Kilcooley: 

Kilcooley will become an attractive, safe and prosperous estate where the residents enjoy healthy active lifestyles.

The Plan is reviewed and updated annually.  The latest Kilcooley Vision and Action Plan (2023-2024) can be downloaded here Neighbourhood Renewal Kilcooley Vision and Action Plan 2023-2024 (PDF, 250 KB) (opens new window) and sets out the strategic vision and development objectives for the area and the community.