Business Support
We are committed to supporting and strengthening the growth and development of our local economy, the backbone of our borough. For information on business support and guidance from government agencies click here.
Business Support
We are committed to supporting and strengthening the growth and development of our local economy, the backbone of our borough. For information on business support and guidance from government agencies click here.
Community Engagement
We are pleased to support community groups and local organisations in their positive response to the Covid-19 pandemic, giving help to those most vulnerable and in need click here
Health and Wellbeing Hub
Taking care of your health and wellbeing is essential during the Covid-19 pandemic. To stay safe, physically active, mentally strong and emotionally resilient, follow the advice on our Health and Wellbeing hub. click here
General Information on Restrictions
On 5th January 2021 the NI Executive agreed a package of additional restrictions given the high levels of Covid-19 transmission in the community.
The clear message is:
STAY AT HOME. PROTECT THE NHS. SAVE LIVES.
The stay at home restriction is now enforceable in law by the PSNI.
You must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary. You may leave the home to:
If you do leave home for a permitted reason, you should always stay local – unless it is necessary to go further, for example to go to work. Stay local means stay in the village, town, or part of the city where you live.
If you are clinically extremely vulnerable you are advised to only go out for medical appointments, exercise or if it is essential. It is recommend that you do not attend work.
HANDS. FACE. SPACE.
Approximately 1 in 3 people who have coronavirus have no symptoms and could be spreading it without realising it. So please remember – ‘Hands. Face. Space.’
Covid-19 is spreading throughout our community, we must all stay at home to stop the spread and save lives
For information and guidance on the latest restrictions. Please click: www.nidirect.gov.uk/coronavirus
SERVICES AND FACILITIES UPDATES
INDOOR LEISURE
For further information log on to: www.getactiveabc.com
OUTDOOR LEISURE
Parks and open spaces are permitted to remain open. We are experiencing high volumes of people visiting our parks. If you are visiting, please ensure you follow the advice to protect you, your family and others.
✅Stay in your household bubble
✅Keep your distance from other walkers & runners
✅Wash/Sanitise your hands before & after using any equipment
✅Put your rubbish in the bins provided or take it home
❌No gathering in groups
❌No group exercising
Please note: You should not travel more than 10 miles from your home in order to take exercise at this time, and that if you arrive at your proposed destination and crowds make social distancing difficult you should find an alternative place to exercise.
Thank you for your cooperation and #StaySafe
Please see a list of services and facilities impacted
For further information log on to: www.getactiveabc.com
All Tourism Arts and Culture facilities will close.
For further information log on to: www.visitarmagh.com
All Civic Buildings will remain open, with members of the public encouraged to attend only where necessary.
Registration services for births, deaths and marriages are open in line with public health and GRO guidance. For further information on revised operations click here.
Planning and Building Control Services are still operational with significant Covid-19 Health and Safety measures in place to protect staff and customers.
We would advise that in relation to Councils Planning and Building Control Services, both these services are operating with additional precautionary measures in place in response to COVID-19.
Further detail on what this means for each service is noted below:-
Planning Service
The planning office at Castlewellan Road Banbridge is currently closed to the public. However, full details of planning applications including a detailed description, plans, maps and drawings are available to view on the Planning NI Web Portal at www.planningni.gov.uk or by contacting NI direct on 0300 200 7830 between 9.30am and 4.30pm for further assistance.
Monthly meetings of the Planning & Regulatory Services Committee are taking place.
Planning applications
Planning is facing ongoing challenges due to the Covid 19 pandemic which have had timescale implications for some of our administrative and processing functions. Notwithstanding this, new applications are being validated, site visits are being conducted – in line with strict protocols to keep staff and the public safe – and decisions are being issued. Planning Officers are continuing to work diligently to process all applications as quickly as possible.
Members of the public can continue to track the progress of an application through the planning portal on the link below;
http://epicpublic.planningni.gov.uk/publicaccess/
Planning Enforcement
Decisions on existing enforcement cases are being made and new enforcement cases are continuing to be opened
Planning Guidance Note – Temporary Structures and Changes of Use
At its meeting of 27 July 2020 Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council ratified a new Planning Guidance Note on temporary structures and changes of use.
This planning guidance note offers advice to existing businesses and organisations who wish to create more space for operational reasons arising directly from Covid-19 through a temporary change of use or the use of temporary structures/buildings or other means including, but not limited to, on street seating for cafes, restaurants and bars, beer gardens and similar outdoor areas to accommodate physical/social distancing.
Please note that this flexibility does not extend to residential properties and that this guidance covers planning controls only.
Guidance Note – Temporary Structures
Any planning queries should be directed to or 0300 200 7830
Building Control
Following the latest review of restrictions by Council the Building Control Department will operate as follows.
Building Regulation Applications
Applications submitted to our Department have and will continue to be validated and processed. We are also available to provide technical advice via phone calls and emails on Building Regulation matters. As there is restricted access to some Council buildings we would request that new applications/amended drawings are posted to either of the addresses below and clearly marked for the attention of Building Control.
Civic Building, Downshire Road, Banbridge, BT32 3JY or
Craigavon Civic and Conference Centre, Lakeview Road, Craigavon, BT64 1AL.
Please note that application forms can be downloaded from our website, link below, and online applications for Building Notices and Regularisation can be made via the same link.
www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/resident/building-control-applications-residents/
Should an applicant or agent have a query regarding the status of a current application they should email the relevant offices at the following:-
*protected email* *protected email*
*protected email*
Site Inspection
We have been carrying out external site inspections and completions inspections on new dwellings, that had not been occupied where deemed safe to do so in accordance with current Government guidance, we now will also be doing internal inspections of occupied premises.
To enable us to carry out these inspections we require a minimum 24 hours’ notice. Same day inspection requests will not be carried out. All responses to requests for site inspections will be based on the applicant’s ability to ensure that the site will be safe to enter in accordance with current Government guidance.
When contacting us to book an internal inspection please follow the guidance set out in our COVID-19 Internal Property Inspection and Visits A Guide for Occupiers.
Where it is considered unsafe for site inspections to be carried out at this time, please contact our offices to discuss possible alternative arrangements such as remote inspections via real time video calls.
Anyone considering carrying out any building works is reminded that it is a statutory duty to notify Council Building Control Department prior to undertaking such works.
If in any doubt, please contact our office on the “contact us” details below
Dangerous Structures
The Department will respond as normal to reports of Dangerous Structures, where the safety of public is a concern.
Property Certificates
The Department have been and will continue to be processing and responding to Council Property Certificate matters. Applications for Property Certificates should be posted to Civic Building, Downshire Road, Banbridge, BT32 3JY
Contact us
Our offices are open (for telephone calls and emails) 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and if you urgently need to speak to an officer in relation to any of the above, please note the following contact details:
We apologize for the disruption to our service at this time, we will closely monitor the situation as it develops and will share further updates as soon as they are available.
We appreciate your patience and understanding at this time.
All Household Recycling Centres are open as normal with Covid-19 procedures in place. Visitors to the centres are asked to please respect the Covid safe practices in place at this time.
Due to operational issues and high demand our Bulky Waste Collection Service is experiencing some disruption which may cause temporary periods of suspension in certain areas of the borough. If you wish to book a bulky waste collection please contact the Environmental Services department on 0300 0300 900 who will inform you of the current status for your area We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding with this matter.
Armagh: Station Road, Armagh BT61 7NP
Monday – Friday: 8am- 4.15pm
Saturday: 9am- 4.15pm
Banbridge: Scarva Road, Banbridge BT32 3QD
Monday – Friday: 8.30am- 5.45pm
Saturday: 8.30am- 3.45pm
Restore Facility at Banbridge Recycling Centre is Closed.
Dromore: Mossvale Road, Dromore BT25 1DG
Monday – Friday: 8.30am- 5.45pm
Saturday: 8.30am- 3.45pm
Fairgreen: Duke Street, Portadown BT62 3EX
Monday – Friday: 8.30am- 5.45pm
Saturday: 9am- 3.45pm
Keady: Keady Business Centre, Annavale Road, Keady BT60 2RP
Monday closed
Tuesday – Saturday: 9am- 3.45pm
Markethill: Markethill Business Centre, Fairgreen Road, Markethill BT60 1PW
Monday closed
Tuesday – Saturday: 9am- 3.45pm
New Line: Tandragee Road, Lurgan BT66 8TA
Monday – Friday: 8.30am- 5.45pm
Saturday: 9am- 3.45pm
Rathfriland: Iveagh Park Road, Rathfriland BT34 5DZ
Monday – Friday: 8.30am- 5.45pm
Saturday: 8.30am- 3.45pm
Tandragee: Madden Road, Tandragee BT62 2DG
Monday closed
Tuesday – Saturday 9am- 3.45pm
PLEASE NOTE:
Who can access the centres?
Important Public Health Guidance
Any suspected Covid19 tissues/waste should be double bagged and separated from other wastes for 72 hours before bringing this waste to the recycling centres, in line with Public Health Authority (PHA) guidelines.
Users are asked to respect the temporary measures in place and the guidance from staff on-site, at this time. We thank-you for your cooperation.
The Bulky Waste Collection Service will be running as normal from Monday 18th May, to book a collection please call 0300 0300 900.
All bin collections are continuing to operate, however you may experience disruption. To help ensure your bin is emptied, please leave your bin out the night before and follow the waste collection hygiene guidelines.
Please respect the safety of refuse collection staff and your own personal safety by taking the following steps:
If you are self-isolating:
Always remember to keep at least two metres (six feet) away from your waste collectors.
Temporary Collection Measures
From Monday 6 April temporary collection measures will commence until further notice. Householders are asked to separate their waste into boxes, regardless of the box colour.
If residents do not have a third box they are asked to hold this waste until their next weekly collection. Guidance on hygiene and contaminated waste will also be included on the leaflet delivered to householders.
Food waste collections will continue as normal.
Unfortunately, batteries, textiles, hand tools or overflow bags will not be collected until further notice.
For Temporary Collection Measures, please click here
For FAQ’S from Bryson Recycling, please click here
All Environmental Health, including dog control and animal welfare services, remain operational.
Members of the public and businesses seeking advice should telephone 0300 0300 900 or email Online dog licensing is available at https://council.direct/
For useful contacts, further information, advice and support in relation your City, Town or Village click here.
All public toilets are open.
Users are advised to follow Public Health Agency (PHA) guidelines at all times when visiting council facilities.
As always we thank-you for your on-going support and understanding at this time.