Plans submitted for Northern Ireland’s first Teen Challenge residential addiction centre in Co Antrim
The property in County Antrim proposed as a new Teen Challenge residential addiction recovery centre.
Monday 9 November 2026
Plans have been submitted to transform a former guesthouse near Belfast International Airport into a residential addiction recovery centre, providing accommodation and support for up to 24 people struggling with drug and alcohol dependency.
The proposal, submitted to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council on behalf of registered charity Teen Challenge UK, seeks permission to change the use of the property at 26 Killead Road, Aldergrove, near Crumlin.
If approved, the development would establish the charity’s first residential centre in Northern Ireland, with applicants highlighting growing demand for addiction recovery services and more than 250 applications received from people in the region since June 2024.
Teen Challenge UK has more than 40 years’ experience providing residential support and counselling for people affected by drug and alcohol dependency. The charity currently operates centres elsewhere in the UK but has no residential facility in Northern Ireland.
Residential programme for up to 24 people
A design and access statement accompanying the planning application outlines proposals to accommodate up to 24 residents at any one time, with each person expected to participate in an 11-month residential recovery programme.
Residents would live at the centre full-time, following a structured daily programme incorporating physical activities, learning opportunities and counselling to support recovery from addiction.
The statement explains:
“The residents will reside full-time at the centre for a period of 11 months and will follow a daily programme which offers physical and learning activities and counselling as means of support for living with and coping with addiction.”
The proposed facility would employ approximately nine members of staff, with staffing available on site around the clock.
No extensions or significant alterations to the existing building are proposed, with the former guesthouse considered suitable for conversion to residential use.
The property, accessed through a gated entrance from Killead Road, is currently vacant and lies immediately south of the runway at Belfast International Airport.
Charity highlights growing demand in Northern Ireland
Planning documents argue that the proposed development would address a significant gap in residential addiction recovery provision in Northern Ireland.
The design and access statement says:
“There is a clear need for the supported residential centre. The charity has received over 250 applications from Northern Ireland demonstrating that there is a need for this type of centre at a regional level which is not currently being met.”
In a separate letter supporting the application, Teen Challenge UK chief executive Phil Hills highlights the wider social and financial impact of substance misuse.
He states:
“Northern Ireland has a significant drug problem with estimates of the cost of drug and alcohol misuse to Northern Ireland annually of £1bn.”
Mr Hills also cites figures placing Antrim and Newtownabbey among the Northern Ireland council areas with the highest numbers of drug-related deaths and rates of alcohol-related hospital admissions.
He argues that increasing demand is placing significant pressure on the charity’s existing residential facilities elsewhere in the UK.
“Since June 2024, the charity has received more than 250 applications alone from Northern Ireland,” he says.
“With the current demand to facilitate residents in mainland UK and increased number of applications from Northern Ireland, our existing residential facilities are under significant pressure.”
Mr Hills adds that establishing a dedicated centre in Northern Ireland would allow the charity to respond more effectively to applications from the region while reducing reliance on facilities elsewhere.
Why a rural location has been chosen
The charity maintains that the countryside setting is an important part of its residential recovery model, allowing residents to distance themselves from environments and influences associated with substance misuse.
Mr Hills explains:
“It is our experience that our residents are far more likely to succeed in a rural setting than in an urban environment and therefore, the majority of our centres are intentionally located away from urban areas and the local community.”
He adds:
“The countryside has proved to offer the best opportunity for distraction free peace and natural tranquillity to help with overcoming substance abuse and addictions.”
According to the planning statement, the property has been marketed to guesthouse and hotel operators for five years without attracting interest.
The applicant argues that the existing demand for airport-related accommodation is already served by the Maldron Hotel and a further hotel development at the junction of Airport Road and Antrim Road.
The statement also addresses the site's proximity to Belfast International Airport, maintaining that suitable glazing and ventilation measures would mitigate aircraft noise and protect residents' living conditions.
Existing building could allow earlier opening
The charity says the former guesthouse is particularly suitable because it already contains en-suite bedrooms, dining facilities and communal meeting areas required for residential accommodation.
Mr Hills states:
“The premises at 26 Killead Road provides all essential building requirements for the charity’s first residential centre in Northern Ireland.”
He argues that reusing the existing accommodation would avoid substantial building costs, allowing more of the charity’s resources to be directed towards support services and outreach.
The absence of major construction work could also allow the facility to open sooner, subject to the necessary approvals.
“Given the ongoing demand, it is expected that the residential centre will need to be ready for operational use in or by spring 2027,” Mr Hills says.
Health trust chair backs proposed centre
The application has also received a letter of support from Jonathan Patton, chair of the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, who describes the potential benefits of establishing a dedicated residential recovery facility in County Antrim.
Mr Patton says:
“A residential centre would offer more than a short-term intervention. It would provide time, structure, accountability, pastoral care, practical life skills and the opportunity for residents to rebuild their lives in a safe and supportive environment.”
He also supports the proposed rural setting, suggesting that distance from familiar environments could help people focus on their recovery.
“A centre in rural County Antrim would be especially suitable. A rural setting can provide distance from harmful routines, destructive environments and pressures that often contribute to relapse,” he says.
Mr Patton believes the development could become a “regional place of hope for all of Northern Ireland”.
He adds:
“Rather than people having to travel outside the region for residential help, a County Antrim centre would provide familiarity, a peer group that can be related to, continuity, local accountability, and ongoing connection with families and communities at home.”
As the application progresses through the planning process, the proposal raises a wider question about access to addiction recovery services in Northern Ireland. With demand continuing to place pressure on existing provision, the proposed centre could offer a significant new source of support for individuals and families affected by drug and alcohol dependency, providing an opportunity for recovery closer to home.
