Chapter 8 - Rural Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is predominantly a rural region with around one million people, or 60% of its population, living in towns, villages and open countryside outside the BMA and Londonderry. Urban and rural areas have distinct roles, but it is important that these roles are complementary and that town and country maintain their distinctiveness and respective social and physical integrity in the sustainable development of each. As estimated at 1998, the population distribution for Rural Northern Ireland was:

It is important that the economic and social benefits of a more stable and prosperous Northern Ireland are translated into balanced and sustained development right across the Region. All communities, whether urban or rural, should have the opportunity to contribute fully to the prosperity of their local area and Northern Ireland as a whole. This is particularly so for rural areas for two reasons. First, to encourage a more equitable distribution of public and private investment. Second, to promote social inclusion and target interventions at economic blackspots.

A diverse and distinctive rural region

Rural Northern Ireland is a diverse area with a distinctive settlement pattern, formed from a rich mosaic of main and small towns, villages, and dwellings in the open countryside, that is unique within the UK. It offers a high degree of choice for the rural community who for generations have been the custodians of this exceptional natural and built environment. A unique landscape of high environmental quality and the historic settlement pattern, together provide an important range of social, economic and cultural facilities for the rural community and the Region.

The towns and villages that make up the rural community have much to contribute to the long-term development of Northern Ireland. Not only can they maintain their uniqueness as a location for residents and a tourist destination with international appeal, but also they can realise their potential to attract smaller-scale direct foreign investment and create new diverse indigenous investment.

Farming is, however, the major land user with almost all farms (99%) being owner occupied. The average size of land owned (34.5 hectares) in Northern Ireland is small in comparison to the rest of the UK, however, it is double the average size in the EU.

In Northern Ireland, the agriculture sector is still more economically significant than in other parts of the UK. As a percentage of gross value added to the economy, agriculture in Northern Ireland in 1999 contributed 2.5% compared to 0.9% for the UK as a whole. Similarly, 6% of the workforce are employed in agriculture in Northern Ireland compared to only 2% for the UK as a whole. Furthermore, in 1997/98 the agriculture and agri-food sector accounted for 15% of all manufacturing exports from the Region.