Armagh - Northern Ireland Housing Executive

Table 1: Key Demographic Statistics – Armagh City & District
Demographics Census 2001 Census 2011 Projected 2021
Children 13,602 (25%) 13,145 (22%) 15,353 (24%)
Working age 32,824 (61%) 36,155 (61%) 38,996 (59%)
Older people 7,837 (14%) 10,040 (17%) 11,373 (17%)
Total Population 54,263 59,340 65,722
Households 18,471 21,594 23,800
Average Household Size 2.89 2.72 -
Source: NISRA
Census 2011 reports 95.3% of the population of Armagh City and District was born
within the UK or the Republic of Ireland, 3.5% in other EU countries and 1.2% in
countries outside the EU.
The local economy has been adversely affected by the recession. Figures from
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) show that 5.1% (1,900) of the
working age population of Armagh City and District were claiming unemployment
related benefits at March 2013, a slight decrease of 0.2% over the year.
At March 2013, 1,386 Housing Executive tenants were claiming housing benefit in the
district.
The Northern Ireland Construction Bulletin, October
2012, notes that outputs last year were
approximately 40% lower than peak outputs in 2007.
Job and self-employment opportunities in the sector
have fallen considerably; the number of
unemployment benefit claimants across Northern
Ireland from the construction sector has more than
doubled since 2007.
2.3 Housing market profile
Armagh City and District forms part of the Craigavon Housing Market Area (see Map
1). The draft housing market analysis identifies a number of housing issues which
present significant challenges in the current economic climate. These include:
• Difficulty in accessing mortgage finance;
• Potential for growth in the intermediate housing sector;
• Ongoing requirement for investment in, and regulation of, the private rented
sector;
• Homelessness;
• Fuel poverty;
• Low but rising unfitness levels;
• The need for additional social housing in some locations.
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