The Department of the Environment (DOE) has stepped in to protect the former Workhouse and Coleraine Hospital listed building.

This important listed building was built as the entrance block of the Coleraine Union Workhouse in 1841. It is designed in the Tudor Gothic style and follows a plan which was repeated across most of Ireland at the time. In common with most other workhouses the building was converted to a hospital for the local area in the early twentieth century- a function which continued until near the end of the century. The structure is therefore an important reminder of past social provision as well as being an attractive historic building.

Welcoming the move, Environment Minister Alex Attwood said: "The serving of this Notice is a further tangible commitment to Coleraine's rich heritage and builds on my announcement of funding to tackle dereliction in Portrush and Portstewart. Our listed buildings are jewels from the past which we need to conserve for now and future generations; once gone they can never be brought back.

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"That is why, following the Heritage Crime summit that I organised, I provided extra funding to ensure direct action such as this could be taken to protect our listed buildings. Listed buildings attract much tourism and there is always the potential to develop this further by securing and preserving them.

"The built and natural heritage will be the biggest part of future increases in tourist numbers and spend. Six of the top ten visitors attractions are our built and natural heritage. Growing tourism from a £500 million to a £1 billion a year industry will revolve around the positive protection and development of this heritage."

In recent years the listed building and surrounding site have been the focus of proposals for a new housing development. However these have not progressed and the building has been vandalised. It is important that such damage is dealt with quickly if further damage is to be avoided. As a result the Department has sought to encourage the owner to improve security and carry out emergency works to protect the building.

These works have not commenced within an agreed timeframe meaning the Department has now issued a notice which outlines the action it intends to take if the owner does not initiate these within seven days. The notice is one of a number planned this year across Northern Ireland following the Minister's Heritage Crime Summit.

(CD)