Historic estate could create 18 jobs with visitor centre plans

Historic estate could create 18 jobs with visitor centre plans

3 February 2016

PLANS for a new courtyard development and visitor centre at Montalto Estate in Ballynahinch could lead to the creation of 18 jobs.

A full planning application to develop a visitor centre, to include accommodation, a restaurant, shop and reception area, within the 400-acre estate is under consideration by the Planning Service.

The proposed development, which is described as “traditional in style, has been designed to complement the estate’s upmarket wedding and function venue The Carriage Rooms, which opened in 2012.

The planning application forms part of the overall redevelopment of Montalto Estate, which was bought by the Wilson family as a private home in 1995.

In 2008, the family moved out of the main house, which was refurbished before being made available for private hire.

Since then, the historic demesne has also been the venue for a number of large scale public events including a 10k charitable fun run, a regroup stage for the Circuit of Ireland car rally and a two-day game fair, which attracted over 10,000 people.

A spokesman for the Wilson family said it was antiquated that the estate’s 12 permanent staff would more than double to 25 if the development is approved, while 25 part-time or casual workers would also be needed.

He said Montalto’s growing success had given them the confidence and enthusiasm to fully open the estate to the public with a long-term aim of developing a top tourist destination with the newly proposed development aimed at accommodating anticipated visitor numbers.

“We are very excited about it. We feel this is going to be a big deal and the hope is that it will be successful,” said a spokesman for Montalto Properties Ltd.

“The idea is to fully open the estate to the public, both local people and tourists.

“The experiences we have had changing the estate over the last 20 years have been exciting. 

“We have people using the wedding venue from both home and abroad, including many ex-pats from Singapore, Australia, Dubai, London and Edinburgh.

“There have been significant changes to the estate in that time and this planning application is part of those changes.

“Everything has been done to make use of the estate in a better way.”

The spokesman added that the Carriage Rooms at Montalto, which is a dedicated venue for weddings, conferences and corporate events, will not be affected by the proposed development.