NEWS

CGI design drawing showing aerial view of the proposed IFA National Football Centre outside Ballymena Tuesday 15 September 2026 A campaign opposing the proposed location of the Irish FA’s National Football Centre in Galgorm has challenged North Antrim MP Jim Allister to subject the project to the same level of scrutiny he applied to Casement Park — prompting the MP to insist he will not be “pressurised or bullied” into adopting objectors’ position. The intervention from the R

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. 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” scheme is being brought forward

CGI showing an impression of the new building Planning permission has been granted for the proposed partial redevelopment of St Louis Grammar School on Cullybackey Road, Ballymena. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee approved proposals including a new school meals block, improved outdoor areas and a reconfiguration of the front of the site aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing congestion on Cullybackey Road. New school meals block and play area The

The new soon-to-open arcade and coffee shop in Ballymena town centre A new coffee shop and amusement arcade planned for Ballymena town centre could operate around the clock under an application submitted to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. The premises at 41–43 Church Street already have planning permission to change from a vacant retail unit into a coffee shop and amusement arcade. The approved operating hours are 9am to 9pm from Monday to Saturday and 11am to 9pm on Sun

CGI of newly approved five bedroom extension at Oranmore Guesthouse in Ballymena Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has approved plans for a five-bedroom extension at Oranmore Guest House on Galgorm Road, Ballymena, despite NI Water raising concerns over capacity. The proposal will provide additional guest accommodation in a single-storey detached block within the established grounds of the property. However, while planning permission has been granted, a condition attached t

The enclosed outdoor padel courts opened last Autumn at Galgorm Castle. Two padel courts already operating at Galgorm Castle have been granted retrospective planning permission, with the five-year approval requiring the development to be reconsidered in 2031. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council approved the application for the enclosed outdoor courts and surrounding surfacing within the grounds of Galgorm Castle Golf Club after assessing their impact on the historic estate an

CGI of the proposed IFA National Football Training Centre outside Ballymena Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has admitted that its decision that the proposed Irish FA National Football Centre at Galgorm did not require an Environmental Statement was unlawful and has committed to carrying out the assessment again. The significant development comes after Sarah and John Herbison threatened judicial review proceedings, challenging the council’s handling of the Environmental Im

Sara Kyle, owner of Galgorm Parks Riding School A long-established Ballymena riding school which provides therapeutic riding for disabled children and young people could face an uncertain future if the proposed Irish FA National Football Centre is built nearby, its owner has warned. Sara Kyle, owner of Galgorm Parks Riding School, says she fears increased noise and activity associated with the major development could affect horses, vulnerable riders and ultimately the viabili

CGI of the approved new DHL distribution centre in Co Antrim. Tuesday 25 August 2026 Plans for a new £15 million DHL distribution centre in Newtownabbey have been approved, paving the way for an overall £18 million investment in the local economy and the creation of 80 new full-time jobs. Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee has given the go-ahead for the development at Ballyearl Business Park, which will provide a substantial new storage and distribut

CGI of the proposed new Irish FA National Football Centre at Galgorm One of Ballymena’s biggest employers has thrown its weight behind plans for a major Irish FA National Football Centre at Galgorm, as the planning file shows around 110 representations supporting the development compared with 64 opposing it. Wrightbus has formally backed the proposed centre at Fenaghy Road, arguing that an investment of this scale could increase visitor numbers, support businesses across hosp

County Hall, Ballymena A review of the environmental service that advises councils on major planning applications is being pursued by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council amid concerns over delays, accountability and confidence in Northern Ireland’s planning system. Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has welcomed the move to examine Shared Environmental Services (SES), which is based at County Hall in Ballymena and provides specialist environmental advice to councils as part of the

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

Changing facilities at the local Broughshane Community Centre Mould, leaking water, inadequate toilets and concerns about water close to electrical installations have prompted a renewed demand for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to take urgent action at Broughshane Playing Fields. UUP Councillor Alan Barr and TUV Councillor Chrissy Jamieson say local clubs, players and volunteers have endured “plainly substandard” changing facilities for long enough and now need a firm pl

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

Design drawings showing the planned new IFA National Football Training Centre in Ballymena The Irish FA says it remains “steadfast” in its plans to create a National Football Centre at Galgorm after two residents threatened legal action over how the development’s potential environmental impact has been assessed. Responding to a pre-action letter concerning the major six-pitch development, the association said the project represents a “once-in-a-generation investment” in footb

(Left – right) Dr Martin Lester (acoustics / noise expert), Ryan Colton (architect), Sarah Herbison (local resident and key figure in the Right Facility, Wrong Location campaign), Liam Vallely (legal expert), Una Somerville (planning consultant), John Herbison (local resident), Andrew Ryan (partner TLT solicitors). The group was pictured at a public meeting held by the campaign group on Thursday evening in Ballymena. The meeting provided an update on the work of the campaign

Wednesday 12 August 2026 Residents concerned about plans for a major new National Football Centre near Galgorm will gather in Ballymena on Thursday evening to hear the latest on the proposal and the campaign opposing its location. The public meeting, organised by the Right Facility, Wrong Location campaign, will take place at 6pm at the Adair Arms Hotel in Ballymena, with residents and others interested in the development invited to attend. At the centre of the debate is a su

CGI artist’s impression of the proposed new i4C CleanTech Centre in Ballymena People in Ballymena will get their first opportunity this week to examine plans for a new four-storey Innovation and CleanTech Centre proposed for the former St Patrick’s Barracks site. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is beginning a statutory public consultation on its proposed i4C development, with an in-person event taking place at the ECOS Hub on Wednesday, 12 August. The project would create

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