AQW 11770/11-15

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 15/05/2012
Answered On Date: 31/05/2012
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel what action Land and Property Services is taking to address the loss of rates revenue resulting from the presence of illegal car parks in the vicinity of Belfast International Airport.

Answer:

Land & Property Services (LPS), in co-operation with both Antrim District Council and Belfast International Airport, carried out a special exercise in 2010 to review those properties in the vicinity of the airport which are operating as car parks, to ensure that an up to date entry in the valuation list was in place. At present there are eight properties valued that include an element related to car parking. These are shown in the valuation list, which can be viewed at: -

http://www.dfpni.gov.uk/lps/index/property_valuation/valuation-of-property/valuation-lists.htm

There are practical difficulties in this particular area, given that car park businesses may begin operating without the normal formal approvals. Information, therefore, is not always made available to LPS. However, LPS continues to regularly monitor the situation on the ground and is confident that currently the properties referred to have been valued. Where information relevant to such properties becomes available, it should be forwarded to the District Valuer (Lisburn) in LPS.