NEWS

Belfast City Hall A debate intended to highlight the persecution and killing of Christians around the world descended into a bitter political clash at Belfast City Hall this week, as councillors traded accusations over Northern Ireland’s own troubled past. A DUP motion focused specifically on the persecution of Christians — including thousands of reported killings in Nigeria — was ultimately replaced by a Sinn Féin amendment broadening Belfast City Council’s position to conde

CGI of new multi-purpose berthing facility for cruise ships to the city at land on Airport Road West in the Harbour Estate. Belfast’s facilities for welcoming cruise passengers are set to be expanded after councillors approved amended plans for a multi-purpose berthing facility within the Harbour Estate. Belfast City Council’s Planning Committee gave the application from Belfast Harbour Commissioners the green light on Tuesday evening, 18 August. The development, on land at A

Aerial CGI visualisation of the approved redevelopment A largely vacant former BT headquarters in Belfast city centre is set for a major transformation after plans were approved for a 135,931 sq ft office and retail development. Capital House, prominently positioned at the corner of Wellington Place and Upper Queen Street, will be extended and completely reclad to create 97,393 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation alongside three ground-floor retail units. The Belfast City C

The crowded streets of Belfast city centre during the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann The success of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann has become a “tipping point” for the debate over greater pedestrianisation in Belfast city centre, a councillor has claimed, amid growing calls for some of the temporary traffic restrictions to lead to permanent change. Belfast Green Party Councillor Brian Smyth says the “bottom line” is that the Fleadh “would not have worked without pedestrianisation in th

A plan to introduce a drug-testing pilot at major gigs and festivals in Belfast has been effectively blocked by the Department of Health. A motion passed unanimously by Belfast City Council earlier this year called for drug-testing and harm-reduction facilities to be explored at council-owned venues hosting music festivals and large-scale events. The motion called on public bodies, including the Public Health Agency and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, alongside organisa

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly joins Kohen McLaughlin and Eadie McErlean to launch the return of the Summer Rose Fair at Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park. Thousands of roses will burst into bloom as one of Belfast’s most colourful summer events returns next month, bringing three days of live entertainment, family activities, food, music and floral displays to one of the city’s best-loved parks. The annual Summer Rose Fair will take place at Sir Thomas and

CGI image of the hotel development in Rosemary Street approved at Belfast City Council’s Planning Committee this evening. This development will bring a 30-bedroom hotel with associated facilities and café. Belfast’s city centre is set for a significant boost in visitor accommodation, residential care provision and housing after planners approved five major developments that will reshape a number of prominent buildings across the city. The decisions, taken by Belfast City Coun

Belfast City Council has warned Stormont that it is “undermining” animal welfare by introducing new legislation without providing funding to support enforcement services across Northern Ireland. The council has agreed to write to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), stating it is “concerned that introducing additional animal welfare responsibilities, without providing adequate resources, risks undermining both existing enforcement activity and

A call has been made to end what has been described as the Housing Executive “turfing out” family members following the death of tenants. Sinn Féin has submitted a notice of motion at Belfast City Council regarding the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s tenancy succession policy, which is due to be considered by a council committee later this month. The motion, proposed by Court District Electoral Area Councillor Claire Canavan, highlights concerns that the current Northern

Lord Mayor of Belfast City Council, Councillor Tracy Kelly pictured with social historian and history communicator Robyn Atcheson as they unveil a memorial plaque for over 10,000 people from the former Belfast Workhouse on the Donegall Road who were buried on the site in unmarked graves. More than 10,000 people buried in unmarked graves beside one of Belfast’s busiest roads have finally been formally recognised, as a permanent memorial plaque was unveiled at the site of the f

Lee Foods Oriental Supermarket, Belfast A Belfast supermarket has been fined £100,000 after pleading guilty to health and safety offences linked to a fatal workplace accident involving one of its employees. Lee Foods Oriental Supermarket was sentenced at Belfast Magistrates Court on Friday 1 May 2026 following the death of warehouse operative Mr Wei Wang, who died days after sustaining injuries in a fall at the premises. Fatal workplace accident The incident occurred on 15 Au

Ballymena Town Hall Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s interim chief executive was paid £151,725 in 2024-25, placing the borough among the higher-paid councils in Northern Ireland as the latest Town Hall Rich List records a new UK-wide high in six-figure local authority remuneration. Across Northern Ireland’s 11 councils, 59 employees received total remuneration of more than £100,000 in 2024-25, up from 51 the previous year, while all Northern Ireland councils also increas

Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter (Hannah and Arthur Nelson) as they help launch this year’s Spring Fair at Malone House. Belfast’s popular Spring Fair is set to return later this month, with families invited to step “down the rabbit hole” for a free Alice in Wonderland-themed celebration at Malone House and Barnett Demesne. The much-loved annual event, organised by Belfast City Council, will take place on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 April 2026, running from 1.30pm until 5

The DUP has voiced opposition to calls for a Basic Income for Artists scheme to be introduced in Northern Ireland. At Belfast City Council this week, DUP Group Leader Councillor Sarah Bunting spoke out against the proposal as the rest of the council voted to lobby Stormont to introduce the scheme. The Republic of Ireland is establishing a permanent Basic Income for the Arts scheme, which will pay 2,000 eligible artists €325 per week for three years. The scheme follows a long

The former banking centre in Belfast approved for change of use to a Transitional Care Centre A former banking call centre in Belfast is to be transformed into a Transitional Care Unit following a decision at City Hall. Elected representatives on Belfast City Council’s Planning Committee unanimously approved an application on Tuesday (February 17) for the proposed change of use from offices to a short-term Transitional Care Unit at Santander House, 1 Mays Meadow, Belfast, clo

The derelict Floral Hall at Belfast Zoo. (Image: David Lee Drone) The historic Floral Hall at Belfast Zoo is set to benefit from a £500,000 investment after Belfast City Council agreed funding as part of its 2026/27 rate setting process, marking a first step towards restoring the landmark Art Deco ballroom in north Belfast. As part of this week’s rate setting decisions, councillors confirmed that £15.8 million has been allocated towards 20 capital projects across the city, in

The derelict Crumlin Road Courthouse in Belfast Plans to transform Belfast’s historic Crumlin Road Courthouse into a Neurodiversity Campus have reached an important milestone after a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) was formally accepted by planners at Belfast City Hall. The PAN, submitted by BBE (NI) Ltd and considered on Monday 26 January, relates to the future redevelopment of the long-derelict courthouse on the Crumlin Road, a landmark building that has stood vacant a

Residents across Mid and East Antrim, and Antrim and Newtownabbey, are being urged to take precautions as Storm Chandra is set to bring disruptive winds and heavy rain from the early hours of Tuesday, January 27. The Met Office has issued an AMBER Weather Warning for Wind, in force from 5am until 9pm on Tuesday 27 January 2026 , alongside a YELLOW Weather Warning for Rain covering the entire borough from midnight tonight until midnight on Tuesday. Council services under revi

Marking work starting on the £5 million redevelopment of Cathedral Gardens are (from left to right): Professor Duncan Morrow from Ulster University, Tzvetelina Bogoina from Cathedral Quarter BID, Reverend Cameron Mack from St Anne’s Cathedral and Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Tracy Kelly. Work has officially begun on the £5 million redevelopment of Cathedral Gardens, marking a significant milestone in Belfast City Council’s long-term vision to regenerate the city centre. Loca

A Northern Ireland council is to examine the feasibility of providing sustainable burial grounds in the city, with a view to establishing sites for so-called green or “natural” burials. Elected members at a Belfast City Council committee meeting this week agreed to commission a report on a motion brought forward by the Alliance Party’s Michael Long , exploring the possible introduction of green burials in woodland or meadow areas, or on land beside cemeteries deemed unsuitabl