North West Region Waste Management Group Section 2 Waste Management Plan General Description of the Area

2 General Description of the Area

Introduction

2.1 The North West Region Waste Management Group (NWRWMG) consists of the administrative areas of Borough Council and City and Strabane District Council. These areas are all situated in the north western region of , they have a combined area of 321,900 hectares, which is 22.8% of the area of the country, and a combined population of 288,5971 which is 15.9%2 of the population of Northern Ireland.

2.2 One of the administrative areas ( District Council) border the Republic of Ireland (County Donegal). This border runs from the northern shores of Lough Mere in the South of the Region to the western shores of Lough Foyle on the Inishowen peninsula in the North of the Region.

2.3 In 2013, there were 10,060 VAT and / or Pay As You Earn (PAYE) registered businesses in the NWRWMG, this accounts for approximately 15.1% of the total number of registered businesses in Northern Ireland. Within the North West Region Waste Management Group the principal towns and cities are , Coleraine, Derry, , Ballycastle and Strabane.

Table 2.1 Key Statistics for the NWRWMG Registered Businesses 2011) PAYE (Census Size

Council Household (Hectares) and/or Households Area Vat Population Average Causeway Coast and Glens BC 187,700 140,877 53,722 2.61 5,580

Derry City and Strabane DC 134,200 147,720 55,596 2.64 4,480

Total 321,900 288,597 109,318 10,060

1 Northern Ireland Census 2011 2 Northern Ireland Census 2011

Ref: IBR0760 Status: Draft for Determination 2-1 Date: August 2015 North West Region Waste Management Group Section 2 Waste Management Plan General Description of the Area

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council

2.4 The new Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council was established on 1 April 2015 and replaces the four Councils of Ballymoney Borough Council, Coleraine Borough Council, and .

2.5 The new Council area covers an area of almost 2,000 km2 and includes rich coastal environments of the North Coast stretching from Lough Foyle to the Glens of (and ) and as far south as the Sperrin Mountains.

2.6 There are almost 120 designated environments within the new Council area, including National Nature Reserves, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a World Heritage Site of the Giant's Causeway.

2.7 The area has an mix of independent and multiple retail centres. In addition, the new Council area has strong links with its agricultural background with approximately 1,000 farms and related businesses and industries forming an important part of the employment mix.

2.8 Tourism, including accommodation, activity and entertainment providers, is also a growing part of the local economy within the new Council area. This includes the Causeway Coastal Route which runs from the to Lough Foyle.

2.9 The new Council area also includes a range of further and higher education facilities, including the University of Ulster located in Coleraine.

2.10 Further information on Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council can be found on the Council's website: http://www.causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk/

Derry City and Strabane District Council

2.11 The new Derry City and Strabane District Council was established on 1 April 2015 and replaces the two Councils of and Strabane District Council.

2.12 The new Council area includes the city of Derry~Londonderry which is the second largest urban area in Northern Ireland. The Council area stretches south and east from the city and is bordered to the west by County Donegal and to the south by County Fermanagh and encompasses the Sperrin mountains including the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the scenic Derg and Mourne river valleys.

Ref: IBR0760 Status: Draft for Determination 2-2 Date: August 2015 North West Region Waste Management Group Section 2 Waste Management Plan General Description of the Area

2.13 The new Council area includes the , Londonderry Port, rail links to and Dublin and key transport corridors to all the major centres of population on the island of Ireland.

2.14 Derry~Londonderry is developing as a thriving regional hub. Derry’s economy has shifted significantly towards knowledge sector activity in the last decade. Other key sectors include technology manufacturing, software development and digital media, business processes in technology and financial services, life sciences, tourism and retail.

2.15 Further information on Derry City and Strabane District Council can be found on the Council’s website: http://www.derrycityandstrabanedistrict.com/

Ref: IBR0760 Status: Draft for Determination 2-3 Date: August 2015