Call for new heritage rules

Call for more protection in conservation areas

Conservationists in Northern Ireland are calling for more protection for historical buildings.

They are taking their fight to Stormont on Friday to deliver a set of demands to Environment Minister Dermot Nesbitt.

Failure to implement planning legislation and a lack of cash benefits are just two factors leading to whole streets and towns losing their character, said Rita Harkin from the Architectural Heritage Society.

"Enforcements have been incredibly weak and there have been no real financial incentives for owners in conservation areas if they have an unlisted building," she said.

"The grants have been frozen since 1998 and therefore there's no incentive - no carrot to go with the stick."

There have been no real financial incentives for owners in conservation areas if they have an unlisted building

Rita Harkin
Architectural Heritage Society

The group also wants to see stiffer fines - up to £1m and jail sentences for developers who ignore the legislation.

Rural homes

The last few years have seen widespread destruction of old buildings, in the rush towards investment and development.

More than 3,000 rural homes have been demolished in the last three years.

Among the casualties are cottages and farmhouses dating from the 17th Century.

They amount to some of the oldest buildings in Northern Ireland.

The Architectural Heritage Society argues that people who want to restore their homes should get the same grant as those who want to start from scratch.

The big problem is VAT - you cannot claim it on the costs of restoration.

Until that changes, it seems the policy of knocking down at times repairable homes is likely to continue.