strength
A vacant building has a recorded new use
The High Street conversion was completed and operating in the 2024 release.
Proposed response: Check whether reuse remains viable and benefits the centre.
What could help →Flintshire, in numbers
Issues and SWOT
Flintshire council area. Every figure carries its own date.
Strengths to build on. Pressures to address. Choices to make.
These assessments connect evidence with proposed responses. They are not ratings of council performance.
Strengths
strength
Make room for homes people can afford
Average private rent is £811 a month (August 2026) in Flintshire council area. This is £35 lower than the Wales average for the same month. Homes rented privately ranged from 6.1% in Mold South to 25.1% in Shotton West — a gap of 19 percentage points.
Housing costs matter most alongside earnings and the number of affordable homes available. A local average cannot tell us whether a particular household can afford its home.
What could help →strength
Bring support closer to people in poor health
5.7% of people reported bad or very bad health in Flintshire council area (21 March 2021). Across Wales, the figure was 6.9%. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 3.1% in Pen-y-ffordd to 10.4% in Holywell Central — a gap of 7.3 percentage points.
This is how residents described their health in the census. It can reveal differences between neighbourhoods, but does not diagnose illness or measure current waiting times. Age profiles differ between places, so these shares do not measure service quality.
What could help →Weaknesses
weakness
Clearing County Hall does not settle its future
The demolition proposal leaves the site’s eventual redevelopment undecided.
Proposed response: Set out viable future uses before assuming regeneration benefits.
What could help →Opportunities
opportunity
Make shared archives easier to use
The archive proposal brings two councils’ collections and services together.
Proposed response: Test access for people across both areas.
What could help →opportunity
Plan homes and care around an older population
21.4% of people in Flintshire council area were aged 65 or over (21 March 2021). People aged 65 or over ranged from 11.5% in Flint: Oakenholt to 31.6% in Gwernaffield and Gwernymynydd — a gap of 20.2 percentage points.
Age alone does not mean poor health or a need for care. Accessible homes, reliable transport and support close to home matter as people get older.
What could help →opportunity
Connect local skills to local opportunities
29.2% of people aged 16 or over had a degree or equivalent (21 March 2021) in Flintshire council area. Across Wales, the figure was 31.5%. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 9.1% in Mold South to 33.9% in Flint: Castle — a gap of 24.8 percentage points.
Qualifications show one part of the skills available locally. They do not show whether people have secure jobs or work that uses those skills.
What could help →opportunity
Target safety work where problems repeat
Mapped police records are available for neighbourhoods in Flintshire council area.
Published locations are approximate and some crimes are not mapped. Counts show recorded incidents, not the chance of an individual becoming a victim.
What could help →opportunity
Turn published plans into visible progress
3 named local projects or plans have official evidence in this collection.
A published plan makes responsibilities and intentions easier to inspect. It does not prove that funding is secured or that promised benefits have arrived.
What could help →opportunity
Target support where disadvantages overlap
Households facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 6.8% in Mold South to 33.1% in Holywell Central — a gap of 26.3 percentage points.
These households met at least two census conditions covering education, employment, health and housing. This is not an income or poverty measure.
What could help →Threats
threat
Programme milestones can change before works start
The archive and demolition records contain future permission and delivery steps.
Proposed response: Keep committed costs and remaining approvals visible.
What could help →| Evidence and response | Who could lead | Related published plans |
|---|---|---|
| A vacant building has a recorded new use87 High Street reuse: Completed conversion reported in September 2024 | Flintshire County Council with the named delivery partners | |
| Clearing County Hall does not settle its futureCounty Hall and Old Library demolition proposals: Prior notification submitted; demolition subject to approvals | Flintshire County Council with the named delivery partners | |
| Make shared archives easier to useNorth East Wales archive centre: Design-and-build contractor appointed; pre-planning consultation reported | Flintshire County Council with the named delivery partners | |
| Programme milestones can change before works startNorth East Wales archive centre: Design-and-build contractor appointed; pre-planning consultation reported; County Hall and Old Library demolition proposals: Prior notification submitted; demolition subject to approvals | Flintshire County Council with the named delivery partners | |
| Make room for homes people can affordAverage private rent is £811 a month (August 2026) in Flintshire council area. Homes rented privately ranged from 6.1% in Mold South to 25.1% in Shotton West — a gap of 19 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 45 of 45 current wards have comparable figures. | The housing and planning authorities, housing associations and developers | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Plan homes and care around an older population21.4% aged 65 or over; 21 March 2021. People aged 65 or over ranged from 11.5% in Flint: Oakenholt to 31.6% in Gwernaffield and Gwernymynydd — a gap of 20.2 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 45 of 45 current wards have comparable figures. | Adult social care, local health services, housing providers and transport authorities | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Bring support closer to people in poor health5.7% reporting bad or very bad health; 21 March 2021. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 3.1% in Pen-y-ffordd to 10.4% in Holywell Central — a gap of 7.3 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 45 of 45 current wards have comparable figures. | Local health services, public health teams, employers and community organisations | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Connect local skills to local opportunities29.2% with a degree or equivalent; 21 March 2021. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 9.1% in Mold South to 33.9% in Flint: Castle — a gap of 24.8 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 45 of 45 current wards have comparable figures. | Employers, colleges, universities and the relevant skills authority | |
| Target safety work where problems repeatUse the dated, complete periods shown in Crime and safety; keep anti-social behaviour separate. | The local police force, council community safety team and relevant services | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Target support where disadvantages overlapHouseholds facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 6.8% in Mold South to 33.1% in Holywell Central — a gap of 26.3 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 45 of 45 wards. | The council's housing, public health and employment teams, with local services |