Church site to be a medical centre

A plan to turn a former presbyterian church in Ahoghill into a medical centre has been approved by Mid & East Antrim Council's Planning Committee.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Jul 2016, 14:39 BST
Updated 11th Jul 2016, 15:42 BST
Ahoghill. (Editorial Image)Ahoghill. (Editorial Image)
Ahoghill. (Editorial Image)

Members backed the recommendation of planners to approve, subject to attached conditions, the application and associated Listed Building Consent by Maine Medical to change the use of the former First Ahoghill Church premises to a medical centre including the removal of existing associated buildings and internal alterations.

Senior Planning Officer Kyle Patterson told the committee that the main church building on the site at the junction of Main Street/Straid Road is Grade B listed and will largely remain unchanged and that the church hall and ancillary buildings which will be demolished are not listed.

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He said the Historic Environment Division of the Department of Communities considered the proposed development could have a detrimental impact on the character and setting of the listed building.

However, he said the planning department was of the opinion that the proposed scheme “not only maintains the character and integrity of the listed building and its setting but also ensures the viable long term future of this redundant building which otherwise would most likely fall into disrepair”.