Northern Area Plan 2016
Strategic Plan Framework: Settlements
Introduction
The Northern Area’s population is split between the six main towns and the rural population in small towns, villages, hamlets and the countryside. Table 1 below illustrates the spread of population within the various settlement categories identified in the Settlement Hierarchy contained in Designation SET 1.
Table 1 Distribution of Plan Area Population by Settlement Category
| Settlement Hierarchy | 2001 Census Population | % of Plan Area Population |
|---|---|---|
| Main Hubs Coleraine & Limavady |
35,800 |
27 |
| Local Hubs Ballycastle & Ballymoney |
14,100 |
11 |
| Other Main Towns Portrush & Portstewart |
14,100 |
11 |
| Small Towns Bushmills, Cushendall, Dungiven, Garvagh & Kilrea |
8,300 |
6 |
| Large & Small Villages | 14,900 |
11 |
| Hamlets | 4,000 |
3 |
| Countryside | 40,400 |
31 |
Coleraine Borough is the most urbanised of the four Council areas in the Northern Plan Area with 78% of its 56,300 residents living in towns and villages in 2001. The three towns of Coleraine, Portstewart and Portrush, which largely function as a single urban complex and are commonly known of as the Coleraine Triangle, had 37,800 residents (28% of the Plan Area total).
Limavady Borough is the next most urbanised with 64% of its 32,400 residents living in towns and villages. 55% of Moyle District’s 15,900 residents live in towns and villages. Ballymoney is the least urbanised Council area, with just 50% of the 26,900 residents living in towns and villages.
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