AQO 1355/22-27

Ms Sian Mulholland
Alliance Party
North Antrim

Tabled Date: 06/01/2025
Answered On Date: 14/01/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities what engagement the Historical Environment Division has had with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council regarding the structural concerns of the listed site of the former Antrim Arms hotel in Ballycastle.

Answer:

My Historic Environment Division has been engaged with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council officials, the owner and his engineer since 10 October, when it was first advised of the structural issues.

At that time, HED officials advised the council that it’s engineers report did not provide any recommendations to stabilise the building’s gable wall.

Officials also advised the Council that specialist advice was required from a Conservation Accredited Engineer to assess the nature of the wall’s instability and to provide proposals for its stabilisation - or to determine that the removal of the gable was the only way forward.

In addition, officials directed that - if demolition and replacement is deemed to be the only viable option - the Department will require proposals for the reinstatement of a replacement wall without loss of remaining building sections.

On 25 October, HED reviewed options and provided feedback to the Council, advising that the proposed options were not deemed long-term solutions for the protection or repair of the listed building.

HED officials are meeting with the owner on the 8 January about another listed property in his ownership and will seek to establish appropriate options/outcomes for the Antrim Arms building.

In the context of legal action taken by the local authority against the owner, there is the prospect of further engagement, currently scheduled for March.