Down District Council is committed to a future in which the need to create jobs and prosperity for local people is carefully balanced with caring for and protecting the natural resources and cultural heritage of the area. The area has a rich cache of cultural resources and this is a key theme in differentiating its potential from other Districts.

Apart from the Tourism Industry of Down, the District has a remarkably high level of resident artists/craft producers - approximately 75% of the total Northern Ireland numbers. It is important to support and develop this artistic community, attracting to it newer creative businesses, designers, photographers, filmmakers, writers, IT companies.

Successful partnerships with Community-based development groups have emerged in recent years to develop and manage flagship local regeneration projects in many of the towns and villages in the area.