Lisburn Buildings Preservation Trust
Charity Number NIC103588
Trustees’ Annual Report 2021-2022
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During the year the Trust met on five occasions, three times online and twice face to face.
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Membership of Development Trusts NI and the Heritage Trust Network were renewed.
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The Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Planning portal was checked on an occasional basis for applications that may have heritage/conservation implications.
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A watching brief was kept on empty or vulnerable buildings and buildings within Conservation Areas.
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A watching brief was kept on historic properties for sale to enable any necessary follow-up.
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In 2019, LBPT was invited to collaborate with Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Planning on the updating and re-issue of the Lisburn Conservation Area booklet to celebrate 25 years of the Conservation Area. However, this project has still to progress.
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Comments by LBPT on the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Local Development Plan have not yet received feedback.
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LBPT has continued to follow progress of a number of vulnerable buildings on the watch list.
Statement of Public Benefit 2021-2022
The efforts above to promote knowledge and appreciation of the historic environment were complemented by mentoring and support, plus public response initiatives.
It was in October 2010 that members of LBPT first visited the former Hilden Integrated Primary School building, which had been vacated in 2008 following closure of the school. LBPT pursued an initiative that resulted in the acquisition of this surplus government asset by Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council purchasing it from the Education Authority in 2016. LBPT continues to track progress on the scheme, which involves Resurgam Trust as the development partner with Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council. Although it is intended that the building will be brought back to use for the benefit of the community as soon as is reasonably practicable, progress has been unacceptably slow, and the building continues to deteriorate. A Stage One National Lottery Heritage Fund grant has now been obtained which will form the first part of the project to bring a heritage building back into community use and provide employment opportunities in connection with the refurbishment and subsequent re-use. The project has also resulted in the publication of a book on the history of the school and the associated community, which serves to encourage the interest in heritage in the local area.
The Lisburn Castlereagh Development Plan is an important document for the Lisburn & Castlereagh area and LBPT submitted comments on the proposals that affect the historic character of the area, which will provide a valuable contribution to any planned development.
LBPT continues to liaise with Ulster Architectural Heritage on the issue of Built Heritage at Risk, reporting any structures within its catchment area and liaises with the Conservation Officer for Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council on Planning items where appropriate. It also keeps contact with other Trusts and with historic organisations that are involved in the area.
As can be seen from the above summary LBPT has continued to pursue its charitable purposes which are to secure by such means as are available for public benefit the preservation, protection and improvement of buildings or structures of particular beauty, or historic, environmental, architectural or constructional merit or interest in Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Area and to stimulate and educate public interest therein.
November 2022