North Antrim MLA says former 'Ballymoney Tech' site can't be left to "sit and rot"
The Minister for the Economy has said that her department has “no plans for future use” for the former Ballymoney campus of the Northern Regional College.
The update came in response to a question tabled by North Antrim UUP MLA Jon Burrows.
The MLA, who is also the incoming leader of the UUP, asked Minister Caoimhe Archibald on January 15 to detail “the current status of the former Ballymoney Technical College site following the relocation of provision to Coleraine”.
Mr Burrows also asked for an update on any plans the Department has for “the future (a) use; or (b) disposal of the site”.
The Department for the Economy (DfE) is responsible for the further education sector in Northern Ireland.
In response, the Minister said the current status of the former Ballymoney Technical College site is that “it continues to be owned and managed by Northern Regional College”.
Minister Archibald added that “as this site is surplus to requirements, there are no plans for future use by my Department, with the College currently progressing the disposal of the site through the Department of Finance’s Land and Property Services’ D1 process”.
The Land and Property Services (LPS) D1 process in Northern Ireland is the mandatory procedure for initiating the disposal of surplus public sector land or assets.
Posting on his Facebook page, Mr Burrows referenced his question to the Minister saying the old Tech campus is “sitting in the middle of the town, this site has enormous economic potential.
"We can't let these properties sit and rot.”