Michelle Weir

A proposed extension to the Eurospar in Doagh has been refused by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee.

The potential for “affordable” housing on the site of the former quarry in Glenarm has been discussed as part of regeneration plans for the village.

Eighteen sunbed operators in Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough have been inspected by environmental health officers during the past year .

A planning application has been lodged with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council for change of use of the former Royal British Legion social club in Ballyclare.

Plans for an investment which could reach £20m at the former Hilton Hotel in Templepatrick were given the go-ahead at a meeting of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee on Monday evening.

The proposed development is for six single-storey cabins, car park with six spaces and improvements to the existing access to the site which is currently agricultural land. The site is located within Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to the east of Glenarm Woods, an Area of Special Scientific Interest with Black Hill and Scawt Hill to the east. The applicant is Wellington Bistro NI Ltd. A design and access statement says: “The design of the proposed cabins utilises…

A report to the Environment and Economy Committee noted a 14 per cent reduction in electricity usage for 2023/24 and drop in water usage by 20.8 per cent. Energy consumption has reduced by nine per cent during the last financial year and fuel consumption by three per cent. The report says that the local authority aims to deliver three “large” LED lighting projects and three solar projects in its buildings in a bid to further reduce energy consumption. Braid DUP Alderman William McCaughey suggest…

Councillors were told at a meeting of the council’s Operations Committee, at Antrim Civic Centre, on Monday evening, that a weekly food waste collection may be introduced. The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is consulting on the future of resources and recycling in Northern Ireland. A report to the committee said: “The aim is to improve the quality and quantity of household and non-household municipal recycling, reduce food waste, decrease the amount of waste we…

Principal planning officer Gary McGuinness told Thursday morning’s planning committee meeting that a site visit had taken place on March 12 after the application was adjourned by the committee the previous month. Mr McGuinness reminded members that the proposal is for eight dwellings to be constructed in two phases on two parcels of land, the first to the east of 26 Upper Road and the second, to the west of 24 Upper Road. He told councillors that the proposed new four-bedroom properties would be…

Of these, 2,378 applicants were in “housing stress” in the borough with single, older persons and small family households in most urgent need. A total of 593 people were placed in temporary accommodation with “increased reliance” on hotels and B&Bs. The Housing Executive has indicated 1,125 social housing properties are required in the borough during the next five years. There were 517 social housing allocations in Antrim and Newtownabbey during 2022/23. Across the borough, 1,341 people who pres…