Menu
05/05/2011
Historic Larne Building Faces Delisting
The outgoing Stormont Environment Minister is to hold a meeting on Thursday to consider delisting an historic building in Larne - with a plan under consideration to raze it and then to build a proposed retirement village.
The news comes soon after the Minister, Edwin Poots met his party colleague, the East Antrim DUP MLA Alastair Ross about the property, Ballyloran House.
According to Mr Ross, the site has been subjected to vandalism in recent years, and has become a hotspot for antisocial behaviour.
"Over the past number of months I have been contacted by a number of local residents who were concerned about antisocial behaviour at the site, and that the area will become an eyesore if it is left the way it is.
"Sadly in recent years Ballyloran House has been vandalised, set on fire and been covered in graffiti. Leaving the site idle is not in anyone's interests," he said.
He said that he met with the Minister, NIEA, the owner of the site and planners to discuss options for the site.
He said that one plan was for the 'owners vision' to construct a retirement village to be realised.
"Clearly the huge investment, employment opportunities and indeed the fact that a retirement village would cater for a growing need in Larne is to be welcome, but we must also be cognisant of the views of local residents," he said.
Now, just weeks afterwards, Edwin Poots has asked the Environment Agency to consider the delisting of Ballyloran House.
However, the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society has said the timing of the move concerns it.
Although the Society agreed that the house had fallen into a state of disrepair in recent years "given the right buyer I'm sure the house could be restored to its former glory", a statement to BBC NI said.
This week, in a statement the Department of Environment said: "Officials from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) are meeting with the Historic Buildings Council to discuss the listing status of Ballyloran House.
"The agency will also be consulting with Larne District Council.
"The Minister sought to clear a lot of business before leaving office including this issue after due consideration was given to all the issues raised."
(BMcC/GK)
The news comes soon after the Minister, Edwin Poots met his party colleague, the East Antrim DUP MLA Alastair Ross about the property, Ballyloran House.
According to Mr Ross, the site has been subjected to vandalism in recent years, and has become a hotspot for antisocial behaviour.
"Over the past number of months I have been contacted by a number of local residents who were concerned about antisocial behaviour at the site, and that the area will become an eyesore if it is left the way it is.
"Sadly in recent years Ballyloran House has been vandalised, set on fire and been covered in graffiti. Leaving the site idle is not in anyone's interests," he said.
He said that he met with the Minister, NIEA, the owner of the site and planners to discuss options for the site.
He said that one plan was for the 'owners vision' to construct a retirement village to be realised.
"Clearly the huge investment, employment opportunities and indeed the fact that a retirement village would cater for a growing need in Larne is to be welcome, but we must also be cognisant of the views of local residents," he said.
Now, just weeks afterwards, Edwin Poots has asked the Environment Agency to consider the delisting of Ballyloran House.
However, the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society has said the timing of the move concerns it.
Although the Society agreed that the house had fallen into a state of disrepair in recent years "given the right buyer I'm sure the house could be restored to its former glory", a statement to BBC NI said.
This week, in a statement the Department of Environment said: "Officials from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) are meeting with the Historic Buildings Council to discuss the listing status of Ballyloran House.
"The agency will also be consulting with Larne District Council.
"The Minister sought to clear a lot of business before leaving office including this issue after due consideration was given to all the issues raised."
(BMcC/GK)
Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
21 November 2005
Small rise in UK house prices
According to the latest figures from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, house prices in September rose for the first time in six months. UK annual house price inflation in September 2005 was 3.3% up from 2.8% in August 2005. Annual house price inflation in London was 1.9% in September 2005, up from 0.8% cent in August 2005.
Small rise in UK house prices
According to the latest figures from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, house prices in September rose for the first time in six months. UK annual house price inflation in September 2005 was 3.3% up from 2.8% in August 2005. Annual house price inflation in London was 1.9% in September 2005, up from 0.8% cent in August 2005.
10 May 2005
BRC reports retail sales drop
Retail sales in the UK fell to their lowest level in a decade, according to new figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The figures showed that retail sales in the UK in April fell by 4.7% on a like-for-like basis and by 1.3% on total basis, compared with last year’s figures.
BRC reports retail sales drop
Retail sales in the UK fell to their lowest level in a decade, according to new figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The figures showed that retail sales in the UK in April fell by 4.7% on a like-for-like basis and by 1.3% on total basis, compared with last year’s figures.
05 February 2004
Insurer's closure sees 1,600 jobs axed
Up to 1,600 jobs have been axed by Norwich Union today after it decided to close its national broker subsidiary, Hill House Hammond (HHH). The company said 1,200 redundancies would be compulsory, and around 400 staff will be found alternative roles throughout Norwich Union’s UK-wide redeployment process.
Insurer's closure sees 1,600 jobs axed
Up to 1,600 jobs have been axed by Norwich Union today after it decided to close its national broker subsidiary, Hill House Hammond (HHH). The company said 1,200 redundancies would be compulsory, and around 400 staff will be found alternative roles throughout Norwich Union’s UK-wide redeployment process.
26 June 2002
NI house prices amongst fastest growing in UK
House prices in Northern Ireland have been growing faster than anywhere else in the UK outside London and the Home Counties, according to business advisors PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). According to the latest issue of PwC’s ‘UK Economic Outlook’, London house prices rose by 250% since 1995, followed by the southeast of England and East Anglia.
NI house prices amongst fastest growing in UK
House prices in Northern Ireland have been growing faster than anywhere else in the UK outside London and the Home Counties, according to business advisors PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). According to the latest issue of PwC’s ‘UK Economic Outlook’, London house prices rose by 250% since 1995, followed by the southeast of England and East Anglia.
04 June 2002
House price rises outstrip market forecasts
The Halifax, the UK's biggest mortgage lender, has said that house prices in May grew at a record rate. The monthly house price survey revealed that property prices grew by 4.2% in the period April to May this year. The average house price in the UK now stands at over £107,000, up 18.5% on the price of the average house this time last year.
House price rises outstrip market forecasts
The Halifax, the UK's biggest mortgage lender, has said that house prices in May grew at a record rate. The monthly house price survey revealed that property prices grew by 4.2% in the period April to May this year. The average house price in the UK now stands at over £107,000, up 18.5% on the price of the average house this time last year.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A chilly start with a widespread frost and some freezing fog, any freezing fog slow to clear. Otherwise bright with sunny spells and coastal showers. Light winds. Maximum temperature 6 °C.Tonight:Coastal showers dying out with a widespread frost developing along with freezing fog, which could become extensive. Winds remaining light. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
