Limavady District Housing Plan 2011/12 - Northern Ireland Housing ...

The district’s economic profile is characterised by a range of small to medium sized
businesses across a number of sectors including construction, manufacturing, retail
and agriculture. Despite the difficulties of the recession, the district remains
relatively dynamic with a thriving main town and several opportunities for assisting
local business start-ups by way of funding, mentorship and training. Limavady
Borough Council works in partnership with Roe Valley Enterprises, North West Life
Long Learning and other similar organisations to develop new skills and business
start-ups in the community. The district recorded the highest ratio of enquiries to
business start-ups in the whole of Northern Ireland.
The North West Regional College has developed a growing cultural and
education role and the recently constructed Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre
provides a new architectural and cultural focal point for the town. These
institutions are significant in developing the town’s profile and will complement the
proposals of the town centre Masterplan.
Limavady Borough Council has also been one of the four councils delivering the
Rural Development Programme in the North West. By February 2010, the area had
benefited from around £1.7 million of funding from the programme, which has
been matched pound-for-pound by local enterprise.
The private house building sector has been severely affected by the downturn in
housing demand. Developers are reluctant to carry out new development in an
uncertain market. The reduced number of property transactions is also affecting
related businesses and services.
At 2009 the percentage of households in fuel poverty in Causeway Coast (which
includes Limavady, Coleraine, Moyle and Ballymoney Council areas) was 43.8%,
and is similar to the Northern Ireland average of 43.7%. Income is a major factor in
the level of fuel poverty with pensioners being particularly vulnerable given their
high level of benefit dependency. Rises in energy prices have contributed to the
sharp escalation in fuel poverty.
Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre, Limavady
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