A threatened historic building has been saved from demolition this week by a Building Preservation Notice (BPN).

The former Market Yard and outbuildings in Fivemiletown - which had been threatened with demolition as part of a planning application which proposes to remove the buildings and replace with retail units and apartments - have now been 'spot listed' by the application of the BPN.

Introduced in 2003, it protects historic buildings which are in danger of demolition or major alteration for a period of up to six months as a listed building.

This allows the Environment and Heritage Service of the Department of the Environment time to carry out detailed research and consultation.

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The market yard and buildings were constructed by the Montgomery family in the mid-nineteenth century. The yard, located behind the former Petty Sessions building, is constructed in part from very fine ashlar stone and in rubble stone. The Former Petty sessions building is already listed.

A spokesperson from Environment & Heritage Service (EHS) said that the buildings are particularly noteworthy because they retain many original features, notably stone arches, a projecting canopy supported on stone corbels and an external cantilevered stone staircase. They represent a significant part of the development of Fivemiletown, and have social history linked to many of the local families.

Under the terms of a 2003 amendment to the Planning Order a building must satisfy two criteria to be temporarily listed in this way; the building must be of special architectural and historic interest and it must be in danger of demolition or of alteration in such a way as to affect its character as a building of such interest.

(VB/JM)