Nine buildings within the Derry City Council area are on a list of buildings throughout the North being considered for listed status.
The DOE consulted with Derry City Council on the nine new listing proposals within the Council area.
The buildings are the first results of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) Second Survey. This has seen surveyors examining and researching the built heritage of Derry since June.
A number of the proposals are located within the historic City Walls while some traditional rural dwellings have also been identified for protection.
The nine buildings are as follows: 54 Ardground Road, Killaloo; Cumber Bridge, Bridge over River Faughan; 24 Lower Ballyarton Road, Lower Alla; Cross Of Sacrifice, Great War Memorial, City Cemetery, Lone Moor Road; St. Augustine’s School; 12 Magazine Street; 8 Palace Street; house approx. 200m north of 513 Baranailt Road, Claudy; house approx. 320m north of 513 Baranailt Road, Claudy.
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said: “Listing more buildings in Derry will be a boost for the City. It will enhance its attractiveness to tourists. This will help the ongoing management of these assets, which are so important to the marketing of the city as a great place to work, visit and invest.
“It follows on from the review of the city’s Conservation Areas a few years ago by providing clear information to owners, decision makers and the general public about why individual historic buildings are considered to be of special interest. This is what I want my Department to be about, ensuring that our environment is recognised and utilised to its full potential to deliver a better economy and quality of life for all.”
The consultation submitted to the Council is the first of a number planned over coming months. As part of the process, it will also be asked this month for its views on the potential removal of six buildings from the list. Survey work has revealed that these buildings do not appear to meet the test required by the legislation.
One building affected, is the painted office and restaurant at the junction of Castle Street and Shipquay Street. This was completely rebuilt in concrete block following a major bomb in the 1980’s. Other buildings have suffered more incremental changes that, in the view of NIEA, have reduced their architectural and historic interest.
As part of this process, NIEA has also reviewed, to date, records on 310 listed buildings in the Council area which will all remain on the list. Most of the extra detail and evaluation now carried out will be made available to the public and researchers via NIEA’s website over the next few months.