5 days ago
Cost of maintaining NI's historic buildings cited as main reason behind deterioration, research shows
Some 36% of listed buildings here are in a poor or very poor condition, while a third are lying vacant, according to a recent survey.
Listed buildings are those deemed to be of special historical or architectural interest.
Once a building is listed, it is offered a degree of legal protection. Any significant changes to such buildings can only happen with consent from the local council.
There are around 9,000 listed buildings across Northern Ireland, with properties frequently being added to the list.
A survey of listed building owners has recently been published by Stormont's Department for Communities, following research which revealed a significant decline in the condition of listed buildings over the last decade.
More than four-fifths of respondents thought the listed building they owned or were responsible for was either very important or important in terms of the overall historic environment, the character of their local area, local history or heritage for future generations.
The survey also explores the reasons behind this deterioration, with the most cited reasons relating to the costs involved in maintenance.
Over three-quarters of respondents (77%) said the lack of government funding to meet higher maintenance costs was an issue, while 67% said that the cost of suitable skilled builders and appropriate materials was a factor.
Around a fifth of respondents (19%) felt that the value of their building did not justify the cost of investing in it.
Those surveyed gave various suggestions as to what would encourage them to carry out repairs, including grants for repairs and help with rates and VAT.
Responding to the findings, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said: 'For the first time, this research gives us a detailed picture of the views of listed buildings and scheduled monument owners on the benefits they see, the barriers they face, and the interventions they think we might make, to ensure that our privately owned heritage is as well maintained as it can be.
'Our buildings and monuments are a public good, they do more than provide benefits to individual owners.
'They help all our society by attracting jobs and tourism, reflecting civic pride, improving our wellbeing, reinforcing our identity and by being a key resource to learn about our long and unique history.
'As a society we owe our gratitude to those who look after these structures, and as a department we will use this research to refine and develop the practical support and help which we can provide to owners.'
On the findings that more than a third of listed buildings here are in a poor or very poor condition, Mr Lyons said it 'paints a very worrying picture'.
'Heritage is a key driver of tourism to Northern Ireland and a source of civic pride and identity. Once lost, it and the potential that it holds are gone forever,' he added.
'I have asked my Department to consider this within the Heritage, Culture and Creativity Programme.
'The new programme will deliver policies for arts, museums, public libraries and the historic environment.
'These are due to go to public consultation this year and my hope is that the Historic Environment Policy will provide the step change that we need and help kickstart a proper appreciation of our built heritage — what we have and how it can be utilised creatively — for public benefit.'
