New powers to tackle derelict buildings approved — but councils warned they need funding

Councils are set to receive stronger powers to tackle dangerous buildings, abandoned properties and neglected land after new Northern Ireland-wide legislation cleared its final Assembly stage.

The Dilapidation Bill will allow councils, including Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, to intervene earlier and issue enforcement notices requiring property owners, occupiers or others with a relevant interest to carry out remedial work.

Where a council is forced to undertake the work itself, the legislation will also allow it to recover the cost from the relevant person.

However, a senior Assembly committee member has warned that the new powers will achieve little unless councils receive the funding, staff and expertise required to use them effectively.

What the legislation will change

The Bill is intended to replace limited and inconsistent existing powers with a modern enforcement system covering all 11 council areas.

It will introduce a graduated range of notices, giving councils options to address properties and sites before their condition deteriorates to the point where they become dangerous.

For communities, that could mean earlier action against buildings left to decay, burnt-out properties, abandoned development sites and neglected land that attracts anti-social behaviour or creates a safety risk.

The legislation could also have implications for town-centre regeneration, where visibly derelict properties can undermine confidence and discourage private investment.

Minister calls legislation ‘potentially transformative’

Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir said the Bill had the potential to transform neighbourhoods and help restore pride in local areas.

Mr Muir said:

“People in Northern Ireland deserve to have pride in their local area and to see their high streets thriving with shops, restaurants and a variety of businesses, instead of being blighted by run-down buildings and dilapidation.

“With the passing of this Bill, we are marking a potentially transformative moment for our neighbourhoods as we enhance the ability of Councils to tackle dilapidation wherever it occurs. It is now up to Councils to drive change in their communities and utilise these powers on the ground.

“I am extremely proud of this legislation and look forward to it playing a role in supporting our local economy delivering more vibrant neighbourhoods.”

The Minister said the legislation would help improve both the appearance and safety of cities, towns and villages.

His officials are continuing to work with council officers on statutory guidance explaining how the new enforcement regime should operate.

Warning over council resources

Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader Diana Armstrong MLA, who chairs the Assembly’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, welcomed the Bill but said additional resources would be essential.

“There is not a person in Northern Ireland who cannot picture a building near them that has been left to rot,” she said.

“It might be the old shop on the corner, a burnt-out house that nobody has touched in years, or a site that was cleared for development and then simply abandoned.

“What frustrates people most is the powerlessness. Communities watch a building decline year after year, hoping somebody will come along and restore it, and too often nobody does.

“These sites undermine confidence in a town, they attract anti-social behaviour, and some are a genuine risk to public safety.”

Ms Armstrong said the legislation would give councils a consistent framework and allow them to act before a neglected building becomes dangerous.

She added:

“From my time on the Economy Committee I saw how much dereliction deters investment. A business looking at a high street sees the empty units before it sees anything else.”

Fourteen evidence sessions held

The Assembly’s AERA Committee held 14 oral evidence sessions while examining the legislation.

Ms Armstrong said the Minister had accepted key amendments and the addition of a review clause. She also acknowledged the work of her predecessor as committee chair, Robbie Butler MLA, and members from across the political parties.

However, she said the legislation’s success would depend on what happens after it becomes law.

“My one concern though is that powers without resources achieve nothing,” she said.

“Councils will need the money, the staff and the expertise to use this legislation. I would urge the Minister to bring forward a funding programme so that this Bill delivers on the ground rather than sitting on a shelf.”

What happens before councils can use the powers?

The Bill is expected to receive Royal Assent within six weeks, after which it will become the Dilapidation Act (Northern Ireland) 2026.

Royal Assent will make it law, but the practical impact will depend on the legislation being brought into operation, the completion of statutory guidance and the preparations made by individual councils.

For Ballymena and the wider Mid and East Antrim area, the key test will be whether the new framework leads to visible action on long-neglected properties — and whether the council is given sufficient resources to enforce it.