Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has adopted its inaugural 10-year Heritage Strategy, a framework designed to safeguard and promote the area's historical assets.

The strategy was shaped by a public consultation that gathered views from more than 10,000 residents, community groups, heritage organisations, schools and businesses.

Lord Mayor Councillor Mary O'Dowd said the plan marked a significant step for the borough. She emphasised that local heritage defines identity and that broad public input ensured the strategy reflects community priorities. The vision, she added, aims to protect heritage sites while supporting community wellbeing and sustainable economic growth.

The strategy sets out a programme of actions including a small grants scheme for heritage projects, the creation of a heritage network, and a dedicated approach for green and blue spaces. It also commits the council to backing UNESCO-related initiatives such as Navan Fort and the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium.

Dr Paul Mullan, Northern Ireland Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, commended the council's extensive consultation. He noted that heritage encompasses what communities value from the past and that the strategy provides a solid basis for future investment.

The borough is the first location in Northern Ireland to be designated a Heritage Place under a UK-wide initiative funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Heritage Places programme is a decade-long commitment to strengthening local heritage.

The council will now work with partners across the heritage sector to deliver on the strategy's goals over the coming decade.