Former Down Council HQ to be demolished

Former Down Council HQ to be demolished

6 February 2013 - by BY DAVID TELFORD

DOWN Council is to bulldoze its former headquarters building at the Strangford Road in Downpatrick.

The move was agreed by local politicians on Monday night when it was confirmed that the site is most likely to be redeveloped to provide new housing.

Council officials are to seek tenders from demolition firms interested in carrying out the work, but the local authority’s depot and garage at the Strangford Road will remain in place.

In addition to the former administrative building being razed to the ground, the local authority’s former Building Control Department will also be bulldozed.

Northern Ireland Fire Brigade staff currently occupy premises adjacent to the former council department located beside a main car park, but they are due to move out in April.. The estimated cost of the demolition is £70,000 and planning permission is not required.

Last year, a report which looked at a number of possible uses for the former council headquarters suggested it could be a base for a new hotel, out-of-town retail complex or housing development. At one stage the council looked at relocating the Down Leisure Centre to the Strangford Road.

But it was confirmed at Monday night’s meeting of the local authority’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee that the preferred redevelopment option of the Planning Service is new housing.

Council officials say they are keen to demolish the vacant buildings at the Strangford Road which they are paying rates on. They also want to reduce the potential for vandal attacks.

Councillors were told the various buildings lying empty since the council moved last September to its new base at the Downshire Civic Centre are alarmed and policed by security cameras.

Welcoming the decision to send in the bulldozers, councillor Terry Andrews referred to arson and vandal attacks on other empty buildings in Downpatrick, including the former Downe Hospital and adjoining health care premises in Pound Lane. He said the former council HQ “must be demolished as soon as possible.”

Councillor Cadogan Enright said he hoped the local authority would not go against its policy of not supporting out-of-town retail development if such an interest was expressed in the Strangford Road site, a point endorsed by councillor Éamonn Mac Con Midhe.

Council chief executive, John Dumigan, said people who live close to the former headquarters have expressed concern about the vacant buildings being targeted by vandals.

“People at this part of town are anxious and concerned about what might happen to these buildings and do not want them to become a focal point for anti-social behaviour,” he said.

Councillor William Dick issued a reminder that Down High School’s new campus proposed for the rear of the former council headquarters requires an access onto the Strangford Road.

Council official, Marie Ward, said discussions have been held with the South Eastern Education and Library Board on the issue of providing an access to the new school and that these will continue.