NEWS

The scene on the Bridge Street area of Ballymena during the June riots of 2025 Thursday 15 October 2026 Forty-one children never returned to Harryville Primary School following the June 2025 riots in Ballymena, while 90% of surveyed residents who fled the town say they do not intend to return, according to a major new report exposing the devastating human cost of the violence and serious concerns about failures in public services and political leadership. The report reveals t

Pictured are (L-R): Men’s Advisory Project Chief Executive Rhonda Lusty, the Housing Executive’s Steve Anderson, John McCandless, Dixie-Jo McNally, Elaine McMeekin, DCI Colin Neill from the PSNI and Karen Devlin from Women’s Aid NI. Wednesday 14 October 2026 The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is bringing together housing providers, police and specialist support organisations for a week of events aimed at tackling domestic abuse, highlighting its links to homelessness and

Wednesday 07 October 2026 Nine people with learning disabilities and complex needs in Ballymena are enjoying greater independence in their own homes — with the service supporting them now receiving double award recognition just 18 months after opening. Praxis Care’s Ballymena Supported Living Service received both the Co-production Award and CEO Award at the charity’s Annual Staff Awards, recognising an approach designed to give residents greater choice and control over their

Waveney Road, Ballymena Monday 28 September 2026 A refusal by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to grant planning permission for a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) at 49 Waveney Road, Ballymena, has been overturned by the Planning Appeals Commission. The proposal, involving a change of use from a four-bedroom dwelling to a five-bedroom, five-person HMO, was turned down by the council’s Planning Committee in January. There were 40 objections to the proposal, raising concer

(L-R): Heloise Brown, Department For Communities, Sandra Hunter, Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Council, new tenant Ruari Morgan, Chief Executive of Rural Housing Association, Stephen Fisher, Chair of Rural Housing Association, Tom Potter, and Pamela Johnston, Northern Ireland Housing Executive Rural Unit. (All photos: Declan Roughan / Press Eye) Saturday 26 September 2026 Ten new social homes have officially opened on Rathlin Island, delivering a significant boost

CGI image of how the new development could transform the streetscape in Ballymena town centre. Final design drawings with a full planning permission application have not yet been submitted. Image: © Love Ballymena 2026 Plans for a major redevelopment in the heart of Ballymena have been unveiled, proposing 79 new apartments alongside refurbished Church Street shops, a community hub and a landscaped pedestrian route through the town centre. The emerging “Meeting House Mews” sch

Waveney Road and Clonavon Terrace in Ballymena Residents across Harryville and Clonavon are being encouraged to put their homes forward for a new competition celebrating the everyday efforts helping to improve both neighbourhoods. The Harryville and Clonavon Best Kept Property Competition offers cash prizes of up to £100, with judging due to take place from Monday 14 to Friday 18 September 2026. Small efforts can make a difference Organisers have stressed that entrants do not

Pictured (L-R) is Paula McIntyre, Pamela Minford (Castle Mall centre manager), Shona Burke (Head of Customer Service Operations at Choice) and Robin Swann MP. Families from Stiles Way in Antrim picked up ideas for making nutritious meals on a budget during a community cooking event with television chef Paula McIntyre. The demonstration, organised by Choice Housing as part of Shared Housing Week, focused on affordable, hearty food and practical advice residents could use in t

Pictured at the Housing Centre’s own beehives in Belfast are the Housing Executive’s (L/R) Robert McClean, Stephen Lowry, Jennifer Hawthorne, Ronnie McCreanor and Conor McCombe. The Housing Executive is changing how it manages some of its green spaces across Northern Ireland, with reduced grass cutting, new wildflower areas and thousands of trees being planted each year as part of efforts to support bees and other pollinators. The organisation has become an official partner o

Pictured (L-R) is Deirdre Steele (Group Head of Maple and May), Chris McGrath (Head of Legal Services), Shona Burke (Head of Customer Service Operations), Ken Ryan (Head of Facilities Management) and Leeanne Magee (Regional Head of Tenant and Client Services). One of Northern Ireland’s largest social housing providers has expanded its senior leadership team from 13 to 18 people as it prepares for further growth in housing, tenant services and its private rental business. Choi

Residents from Abbeyfield & Wesley’s Ballymena house kicks off festivities as the housing association, built on companionship and community, marks 70 years of ‘family-style’ living with celebrations across Northern Ireland. A pioneering approach to housing which has helped generations of older people remain independent while enjoying companionship and a sense of family is marking its 70th anniversary — with the celebrations beginning in Ballymena. More than 50 residents, rela

St Patrick’s housing development in Ballymena A new community hub bringing health, welfare, housing and policing support directly to residents of Ballymena’s St Patrick’s development will officially open this week. Radius Housing will launch the new St Patrick’s Community Hub on Thursday 13 August, creating a dedicated space within the 135-home development where tenants can access regular advice clinics and community services close to home. The Hub has been developed followin

Site plan for proposed 37 home development in Toomebridge, refused by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Tuesday, 4 August 2026 A proposed residential development of 37 new homes at Loughview Drive in Toomebridge has been refused planning permission by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee following significant local opposition, including 176 objections. The application sought permission for nine detached houses, 18 semi-detached houses and 10 apar

Site for proposed apartments complex on Springwell Street, Ballymena Plans for a nine-apartment development at Fountain Place in Ballymena have been refused by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council over concerns about privacy, overlooking and the quality of accommodation for future residents. The application sought permission to demolish an existing dwelling and outbuildings at 23 Fountain Place and replace them with a development of nine apartments. Access to the site would ha

A total of 260 new homes were completed across Mid and East Antrim during the financial year from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, according to a new council report. Presented to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee at The Braid in Ballymena on Thursday, the Housing Land Availability Report shows Ballymena accounted for 41 per cent of all new homes completed during the year, ahead of Carrickfergus (13 per cent) and Larne (almost 12 per cent). The report also

CGI showing elevations of approved plans to create 19 town centre apartments at a historic former bank building in Ballymena. Planning permission has been granted to transform a historic former bank building in Ballymena town centre into 19 apartments. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee approved the application at a meeting in The Braid on Thursday morning. The proposal will see the partial demolition of the building at 97 Mill Street, alongside its ada

The scenes on Thursday when a fight broke out among a number of men in a Ballymena housing estate. A street fight involving weapons in one of Ballymena’s newest housing developments has led to three arrests, after an incident that unfolded while children were playing nearby prompted renewed concern from local residents about ongoing antisocial behaviour in the area. Witnesses described seeing a number of men involved in a violent confrontation in St Patrick’s Place at around

A planning application has been lodged with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council for a proposed new social housing development comprising 14 dwellings in Toomebridge. The application for full planning permission has been submitted by an agent on behalf of JAMDAC Developments Ltd, of Hillhead Road, Toomebridge, for lands to the rear of 36-42 Main Street. The proposal includes the demolition of an existing property at 42 Main Street and the creation of a new access road to s

The site off the Dans Road being cleared with local residents reporting the removal of ‘several ancient trees’ Opponents of a controversial housing development beside Ballymena’s Braid River Walk say their campaign is far from over after holding a community information night this week following the recent planning decision that approved the scheme in principle. Residents and campaign supporters gathered at the Leighinmohr House Hotel on Thursday evening, June 2, to hear updat

Inset: Communities Minister Gordon Lyons Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has pledged tougher action against social housing fraud in Northern Ireland as a new public consultation launches on proposals to strengthen powers against those abusing the system. The move comes amid continuing pressure on social housing across Northern Ireland, with the Department estimating tenancy fraud and misuse costs the public purse around £9.9 million every year. Officials believe the true co