Land & Property Services has released the draft valuation list for non-domestic properties as part of Reval 2026.

Across Northern Ireland, retail property values have increased overall by around 9% compared to Reval 2023, with a stronger growth in Belfast and more moderate uplifts elsewhere. It is reported that many independent high street retailers will see no change in the NAVs.

Encouraging ratepayers to review the new valuation to be applied to their property, Angela McGrath, Commissioner of Valuation for NI said the majority of non-domestic properties are expected to see little or no change in their rates liability.

“Businesses are currently paying rates based on rental levels that reflect the economic and market conditions during the pandemic in October 2021. Reval updates this position by using more up-to-date rental evidence from April 2024,” she said.

“LPS will review any new or relevant information ratepayers wish to bring forward now and make updates where appropriate before the new valuation list takes effect in April 2026.”

Meanwhile, strong demand from logistics and manufacturing, coupled with limited modern supply, has driven industrial and warehousing rents upward, resulting in an overall sector increase of around 16%.

Although the Revaluation is revenue neutral overall, individual rate liabilities will shift. This means that a percentage increase in a property’s value will not lead to a rate bill rising by the same percentage. That is because poundages will be adjusted ahead of the rate bills issuing and will take account of the growth in property values at Reval 2026.

Typically, properties that have seen above average increases in their value will likely see their overall rating liability increase, resulting in a higher rate bill. Approximately 67% of properties, meanwhile, are at or below the increase of 15%.

Around 75% of non-domestic properties are currently entitled to some form of rate relief through schemes provided by the Department of Finance, through Land & Property Services, amounting to around a quarter of a billion pounds worth of relief.

A current consultation for enhancements to the Small Business Rate Relief scheme, which currently supports around 30,000 of the 75,000 non-domestic properties, is also currently ongoing and proposals will take account of the changes to the valuation list resulting from the Reval 2026 process.

To view the 2026 Draft Valuation List, query a valuation or submit information, go to: www.finance-ni.gov.uk/services/ni-reval2026-draft-valuation-list

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Allwyn has announced the next step in its transformation journey with a major upgrade to its website and mobile apps taking place on Saturday 24^th January until the end of Sunday 25^th January.

During this time, The National Lottery website, as well as The National Lottery iOS and Android apps, will be taken offline so that these important updates can take place. This includes migrating the accounts for The National Lottery’s 11.8 million active registered players to a brand-new account management system.

Players will be able to log in and play online until 11pm on Saturday 24^th January and Lotto and Thunderball draws will take place as usual from 8pm that evening. Once the website and app go offline, players will still be able to buy tickets at retailers nationwide.

During the time the website and mobile apps are down, National Lottery retailers may see higher numbers of players coming into their stores to check their retail tickets, as the online ticket checker will also be unavailable. Retailers can make the most of any extra footfall by suggesting a ticket or Scratchcard purchase at the till.

Following the upgrades, National Lottery trading hours will also be extended from the evening of Sunday 25^th January. Retailers will be able to sell draw-based game tickets and pay out prizes until 23.55 each day, giving them an extra 55 minutes of trading time.

Andria Vidler, Allwyn’s CEO said these digital upgrades mark another milestone in their transformation of the Lottery.

“This is just the beginning of an exciting year for Allwyn and The National Lottery, as we work towards our ambitious goal to double weekly returns to Good Causes from £30 million a week at the start of the licence to £60 million by 2034.”

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The third-generation family-owned business has operated on the Falls Road for 87 years, having been opened in 1939 by Seamus McPeake and is currently owned by his granddaughter Daniella.

The Home Improvement Centre and Fancy Dress shop has long been an institution in the area and has transformed from selling hardware items including tools and paint, to giftware including ballons and homeware gifts, as well as their fancy dress department.

Announcing the news on social media, Daniella said the time had come to make the decision, and with “no younger generation following in our footsteps”, they had decided it was time to retire.

“On behalf of my grandfather, my father, and myself I want to thank all our loyal customers. Whether you visited once or a thousand times, your support carried us through three generations of trading, and for that we will be forever grateful,” said Daniella.

“It has been our honour to be a small part of the heartbeat of the Falls Road – a place that will always hold a special place in our hearts.”

Daniella also had high praise for fellow shopkeepers, thanking them for “every shared conversation and moment of fellowship”.

“We have been proud to work alongside you and wish you every success in the years ahead.

“We would also like to wish the new custodians of 111 Falls Road every success. We believe their work will be a tremendous benefit not only to our community, but to families across the country. Knowing this has brought us great comfort as we pass on a building filled with so many memories, friendships, and moments that shaped our family.”

She also had a special word of thanks for all their staff, praising their hard work, loyalty and friendship for making the business what it was.

There were countless tributes on social media, with many people thanking Daniella and her family for their services over the years and wishing them well for the future.

The post Iconic Belfast store closes its doors after 87 years in business first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Part of the Linden Foods business that was acquired by the company in 2021, the retail packing factory had operated previously as a joint venture between ABP and Fane Valley.

Following the announcement, a spokesperson for ABP said the company “continually reviews its processing footprint to ensure that it has the most efficient operational model aligned to trading conditions and market trends”.

In a statement in which they described the move as a “very difficult step”, ABP said that “changes in the UK landscape have led to the difficult but necessary requirement to consolidate and reduce the number of our retail packing facilities situated within the UK including Northern Ireland”.

“Regrettably therefore it is our intention to cease retail packing at our ABP Linden retail packing facility based at Granville Industrial Estate in Dungannon,” read the statement.

“As a consequence, we have entered into a formal consultation process with 338 colleagues whose jobs are at risk. We will seek to minimise the impact on those who are affected. This would include redeployment where possible.

“ABP Linden continues to receive and process cattle and sheep as usual and the jobs at this separate facility, also located within Granville Industrial Estate in Dungannon, are not impacted. ABP’s Lurgan and Newry sites are not impacted and continue to operate and receive livestock as usual. Kettyle Irish Foods in Lisnaskea is also not impacted.”

‘The agri-food sector is absolutely vital to our local economy and to Northern Ireland as a whole’

A spokesperson for ABP added: “This has been a very difficult step. But we are facing a challenging and changing UK and global marketplace for beef and lamb. Streamlining our operations is a necessity to achieve operational efficiencies, maintain our competitiveness and strengthen our business for the long term.

“We are providing support to all colleagues at risk of redundancy within the ABP Linden retail packing facility. This will include exploring opportunities for redeployment or relocation. ABP UK remains committed to Northern Ireland’s agrifood sector.

“We continue to focus on developing future opportunities for the sale of Northern Irish beef and lamb within the UK and further afield. Our long-standing procurement partnerships with Northern Irish farmer suppliers is supported by continued investment in the future sustainability of beef and lamb production in Northern Ireland.”

There has been widespread reaction to the news, with many political and community representatives voicing their shock and disappointment at the announcement.

Mid-Ulster Councillor Karol McQuade said his thoughts were with the affected staff and their families and called the news “really concerning”.

“This is a major employer in this area and job losses on this scale will have a massive impact,” he said.

MLA Diana Armstrong said that she was “deeply concerned” and called on the Economy Minister to urgently engage with ABP Foods, trade unions and relevant agencies “to ensure that all available support is put in place without delay”.

“The agri-food sector is absolutely vital to our local economy and to Northern Ireland as a whole,” she said. “It is therefore essential that those affected by this decision receive immediate and practical support.

“This must include access to emergency assistance, retraining opportunities, and clear pathways into alternative employment where possible.”

The post Retail packing factory to be closed at ABP Dungannon facility first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Julie Brown, along with Fed representatives met with Democratic Unionist MP Jim Shannon in Comber at Livingstone’s Newsagents, the shop owned by Julie and her brother Jim Livingstone.

The shop is situated on Bridge Street, in the centre of the town near Strangford Lough in the Strangford constituency of the Westminster Parliament. The Fed’s membership services manager, Gwen Patterson also attended the meeting. During the meeting, Julie, Jim and Gwen highlighted the value of small independent shops to people across Northern Ireland and across the wider UK and Ireland, together with the social and economic role they play at the heart of their communities.

Following the meeting Jim Shannon MP described it as extremely positive.

“I was delighted to meet with Julie, Jim and Gwen from the Fed. I look forward to working with them in the future to highlight the work of the Fed and what we can do locally and what I can do as a Member of Parliament from Westminster to amplify this message.”

“We were pleased that Mr Shannon took the time to visit the business and listen to the points that I raised about the cost of doing business, as well as issues around theft and the challenges posed by rogue trade including the illicit trade of tobacco and what can be done to stop it,” said Julie.

“I will be happy to work with him in the future and to continue to work on the points we raised.

“We emphasised the danger that if the rising business costs I identified like higher taxes – particularly higher National Insurance contributions – and energy costs are not addressed they are likely to lead to shorter shop opening hours and cutting staff hours.”

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