Local Government Reform

Updated - April 2013

In April 2015, as part of the reform of local government in Northern Ireland (previously known as the Review of Public Administration), we will grow to take in around 50,000 additional residents and 20,000 households as the number of councils is reduced from 26 to 11.

Our new council will, once in place, include parts of the existing Lisburn and Castlereagh councils, plus a small area of North Down. Legislation confirming the boundaries of the 11 councils has now been approved.

The images on this page show our current boundary, and the areas (in red) which will become part of the new Belfast council. Alternatively, these links contain more detailed maps of how we will look in 2015:

We are committed to making the most of the opportunities reform offers and meeting the challenges ahead of us.

In this section, you can find out more about what the changes will mean for you, for Belfast and for us as a council.

And, until the changes take effect and details of the reform programme are confirmed, it is business as usual as we continue to deliver the everyday services which our residents rely upon.