NEWS

Planning permission has been granted for the partial demolition of Castle Mall in Antrim and the development of new social housing on the site. The proposal, which will see the construction of 39 dwellings in the town centre, was approved at a meeting of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee at Mossley Mill on Monday evening, December 8. The new development, to be delivered for Choice Housing, will comprise one detached house, 14 terrace homes and 24 ap

Budget Energy customers are set to face higher electricity bills early next year as the supplier prepares to increase its tariff by 4% from 15 January 2026. The rise means a typical credit customer will see their annual bill increase by around £47, while a typical prepayment customer will pay around £46 more per year. According to the Consumer Council , the average annual bill for Budget Energy customers will now reach £1,281 for credit customers and £1,270 for prepayment cus

Pictured at the launch of Northern Ireland’s Consumer Energy Charters for Winter 2025/2026 are gas and electricity supplier representatives with Karen Smyth, Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability at the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, Angus Kerr, Director of Climate Change at the Department for Communities, William Deane, Head of Consumer Protection and Community Energy at the Department for the Economy, Shane Logan, Chief Executive at Bryson and Sinéad Campbel

Home heating oil prices have dipped this week, according to the Consumer Council’s latest Home Heating Oil Price Checker , offering some short-term relief for households preparing for colder weather. The average cost of 500 litres now sits at £299.59, around £11.30 cheaper than last week, though still £12.45 more expensive than last month. The fluctuating figures highlight the ongoing volatility of the heating oil market, with prices changing daily and making it increasingly

Latharna House high rise block of flats in Larne. Mid and East Antrim councillors have been given assurances by the Housing Executive over the future demolition of Larne’s last remaining high-rise flats. Speaking at a meeting of the council’s Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee at The Braid in Ballymena on Tuesday evening, Housing Executive chief executive Grainia Long was responding to a query from Larne Lough Alliance Councillor Maeve Donnelly regarding the unoccupied

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has detailed more than £62 million of investment across Mid and East Antrim during 2024/25, as councillors were briefed on extensive works to improve homes, support vulnerable residents and maintain community cohesion. Chief Executive Grainia Long delivered the update at the annual Housing Investment Plan presentation on Tuesday 2 December 2025, outlining progress in both the organisation’s Strategic Housing Authority functions and its r

The Housing Executive’s Ballymena office is opening its doors to the local community this December for a special coffee morning and donation drive in support of Homelessness Awareness Week. Locals are invited to Twickenham House on Monday 1st December, from 10am to 2pm , for a warm drink, a slice of cake, and an opportunity to show support for individuals experiencing homelessness. As part of the initiative, staff will also be collecting non-perishable food items, toiletries,

Communities Minster Gordon Lyons (right) pictured with (left to right) Kevin Curran (Northern Ireland Housing Executive), Paula Craig-Peratt (Falkirk City Council), Stephanie Toghill (Tenancy Fraud Forum UK), Katrina Robinson (Tenancy Fraud Forum UK) and Tracey Ellis (Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations). Housing Minister Gordon Lyons has pledged a tougher stance on social housing tenancy fraud, warning that those who abuse the system are “taking a lifeline f

NI Water is urging households across Northern Ireland to take simple but essential steps to protect their properties as temperatures drop during the first cold snap of the season. The utility provider has reinforced the importance of locating and testing stop valves, insulating exposed pipework and taking preventative measures to reduce the risk of leaks and burst pipes as colder weather sets in. With a rise in freezing conditions expected in the weeks ahead, NI Water says ea

North Antrim MLA Paul Frew at Chestnutt Hall North Antrim MLA Paul Frew has welcomed the completion of long-awaited road and footpath works at the Chestnutt Hall development in Ballymena, following concerns raised by local residents. Mr Frew said he had been approached by a number of homeowners in the estate who reported issues including raised ironworks and incomplete road and footpath surfaces. After visiting the site, he said it was clear the situation was causing difficu

Pictured at the launch of Northern Ireland’s Consumer Energy Charters for Winter 20252026 are supplier representatives, Karen Smyth, Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability at the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, Angus Kerr, Director of Climate Change at the Department for Communities, William Deane, Head of Community Energy and Consumer Protection at the Department for the Economy, Shane Logan, CEO at Bryson and Sinéad Campbell, Head of Money Debt and Quality at

Mayor of Mid & East Antrim Mayor, Jackson Minford, joins Sonic the Hedgehog, Kevin the Minion, at a community celebration event at St Patrick's Housing development, along with Loma Wilson, Radius Housing, and Grainne Mullin, NIHE.  Residents of the new St Patrick’s shared housing development in Ballymena came together this week for a special Tenants Welcome Event to celebrate the completion of the new homes and the beginning of a vibrant new community. Held on Wednesday 29th

AIB on Wellington Street, Ballymena AIB NI is set to visit Ballymena on Wednesday 12 November as part of its new ‘Let’s Talk Co-Ownership’ branch series – a fresh initiative designed to support homebuyers across Northern Ireland with practical, face-to-face guidance. Running throughout October and November, the series will see AIB’s local mortgage experts teaming up with Co-Ownership specialists to provide tailored advice and insight for anyone considering home ownership. The

Kinecx Energy Chairman Dr David Dobbin (second from left) and Kinecx Energy Chief Executive Officer Niall Martindale (second from right)...

Click Energy customers across Northern Ireland are set to see their electricity bills rise by 3.5% from 1 November 2025, with the average...

View of the derelict Mill from Ballyarnot Road, County Antrim Planning permission has been unanimously approved by Antrim and...

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has outlined its role in the assessment process used to determine the suitability of areas...

Northern Ireland’s second largest energy supplier, SSE Airtricity, has confirmed that its standard variable electricity tariff will...

The River Braid, Ballymena A proposed housing development near the Tullygarley area of Ballymena has ignited significant opposition from...

The cluster of abandoned cottages dates back to the 1800s. (All images: BBC NI) In a heartwarming journey to preserve Northern Ireland’s...