The BBC reports that concerns have been raised by the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society at the Northern Ireland Environment Minister, the DUP’s Edwin Poots’, apparent haste in seeking to have Ballyloran House, Larne, delisted by the non-independent NI Environment Agency before he leaves office on May 5. From the BBC report
The Ulster Architectural Heritage Society has said it is concerned by the timing of the move.
“I can’t really understand the haste,” the society’s John Anderson said.
“I would have thought that possibly it must be to do with a strong lobby coming from somewhere.”
He added: “There are standard procedures to be followed, there is a normal timescale to be followed I would hope that everything in relation to planning policy and the various policy statements dealing with this kind of thing are followed to the letter as they should be in any case.”
Mr Anderson said that while the house had fallen into a state of disrepair in recent years “given the right buyer I’m sure the house would be restored to its former glory”.
At least one DUP MLA has been lobbying the minister, on 23 March this year, and the owner appears to want to redevelop the site as “a retirement village”.
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