Rates

In Northern Ireland, rates are a property tax based on the capital, or market value of homes.  Rates of non-domestic properties, such as businesses and offices, are based on the rental value of your property.

The income from this tax contributes towards the cost of providing local government services, such as leisure services and bin collections, and central government services, such as education and health. 

Your rates bill is made up of two parts:

District rate: the district rate is fixed annually by individual councils and is used to pay for services such as bin collections, recycling and waste disposal, leisure services, street cleaning and parks.

Regional rate: the regional rate is set by central government and is used to pay for services such as roads, education and health.

Rate setting in Ards and North Down Borough Council (ANDBC) is a balance between affordable costs for ratepayers, maintaining quality of services and delivering ambitions for the Borough in relation to job creation, attracting visitors and regeneration.   

More information about your rates

Rates for 2026-27

UPDATE 11 February 2026: Revised District Rate Agreed for 2026/27

At a Special Council meeting on 10 February 2026, Ards and North Down Borough Council agreed a revised district rate for the 2026/27 financial year.

Following the Minister of Finance's announcement on 29 January that Reval 2026 will not proceed, updated financial factors were applied. As a result, the previously agreed rate increase of 4.74% has been revised down to 4.50%.

Striking the rate is always a balance - between agreeing a figure that allows us to deliver the quality services, and to make the investments, residents want, while seeking to ensure the financial burden placed on our ratepayers is as low as possible.  We will continue to scrutinise council spending and are committed to making further efficiency savings where possible throughout the year ahead.

You can find more details of how your rates are spent below.  

How we will use your rates in 2026-27

Alongside all the statutory local government duties you will be very familiar with, this budget will enable our Council to deliver on some very significant priorities that are critical to the future health and prosperity of our Borough.

Our budgeting approach this year has been guided by three key principles:

• Growing the non-domestic rate base
• Targeting efficiencies without reducing services
• Planning responsibly for our ambitious capital investment programme

Throughout this process, our priority has remained clear: to continue investing in the places and services that residents rely on every day.

We are taking practical steps to tackle environmental challenges and support sustainable living:

• Recycling on the Go: A pilot programme will launch this year, making it easier to recycle while out and about.
• Kerbside Recycling Expansion: Later in the year we will trial kerbside collection of plastic bags and wrapping — a service many residents have asked for.
• Mobile CCTV for Fly‑tipping: New mobile cameras will help deter illegal dumping and support enforcement across the Borough.
• Active Travel: Work is progressing on the next stage of the Green Road to Donaghadee Greenway, building on major progress between Newtownards and Bangor.

We continue to invest in the people and programmes that help communities thrive:

• Sports Development: Grants for local clubs to upgrade pitches, courts and equipment, plus funding for athletes, teams and volunteers preparing for Glasgow 2028.
• Leisure Enhancements: Planned improvements at Ards Blair Mayne and Bangor Aurora will support excellent service standards and promote residents' health and wellbeing.
• Inclusive Access: Through our Visually Aware Borough initiative, we will expand accessible leisure activities and improve inclusivity across our facilities.

Guided by our Roadmap to Sustainability, we are delivering:

• Continued reductions in carbon emissions
• Protection and enhancement of natural assets
• A more circular economy through expanded kerbside recycling
• Increased biodiversity in parks and open spaces
• Ongoing partnership work in environmental education and green tourism

We have focused on efficiencies in our most essential and costly services:

• Waste Management: As disposal remains a major pressure for councils across the region, our sector-leading recycling performance helps reduce costs, generate income and meet statutory targets.
• Facilities Maintenance: Growing demand requires better planning — we are moving from reactive repairs to planned, value-for-money maintenance.
• Energy Management: We continue to prioritise active energy management and invest in green energy solutions such as solar panels.

These measures help control costs and strengthen long-term financial resilience.

We remain committed to promoting sustainable economic growth:

• Regeneration Projects:
  • Construction continues at Marine Gardens.
  • Ballyholme Yacht Club and Pickie Fun Park are now in pre‑planning under the Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment.
• Major Capital Projects:
  Progress continues on the:
  • New Citizens Hub in Newtownards
  • Innovation Hub in Holywood
  • New Civic Offices
  • Repurposing of Bangor Castle
  • Planned demolition of the former NIE building at Balloo — paving the way for future development
• Business Support:
  • The Supporting Thriving High Streets Programme is revitalising vacant properties.
  • Ongoing Chamber Grants and funding for Bangor BID support local business voices.
• Local Action Groups:
  New groups for Bangor and the four towns will launch in Spring 2026, strengthening local engagement and place-based decision making.

Our capital plan represents over £250 million in investment, with central government providing more than half of the funding.

To manage this responsibly, we must plan borrowing carefully and ensure long-term costs are predictable. This year's budget therefore includes provision for capital spending well into the next decade.