Key Competitive Attractions
Ards is located 10 miles from Belfast City Centre. Belfast International Airport is approximately 30 miles from Newtownards, and Belfast City Airport approximately 7 miles.
Traditionally an area of agriculture and fishing industries, the other main industries in the borough are construction, retail, arts and crafts, tourism and leisure.
The Inter Departmental Business Register (IDBR) showed there were 2215 VAT Registered Businesses in Ards in 2007. Of these, 545 were within the Agricultural sector, 345 within the Construction sector and 305 within the Property & Business Services sector.
The estimated population of Ards was 77,117 in 2007, and is projected to reach 85,332 by 2021, based on the 2006 mid-year estimates of the population. Source: NINIS Website and ONS Labour Force Survey.
