Construction Ireland Construction Directory
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Share this page
Construction News
09/01/2009

£1m Grant For Belfast Church Repairs

Construction News Image
The largest ever single grant for an historic building in Northern Ireland has been announced by Environment Minister Sammy Wilson.

Church House in Belfast's Fisherwick Place, the headquarters of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, has been awarded a £1m grant from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) for repairs.

It is the single biggest grant award ever given under the Historic Buildings Grant Aid Scheme for repairs to listed buildings.

Mr Wilson said: "Church House is one of Belfast's best known historic buildings and it is important that an important part of the city’s architectural heritage is preserved for future generations. This grant will go a long way towards ensuring that."

-- Advertisement --

Church House, a three storey building, was built in 1905 and was opened by the Duke of Argyll. It was built in the style of a Scottish Baronial castle and the crown on top of its tower was based on St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh.

The building was renovated in 1992 to provide more accommodation and houses a 1300-seater Assembly Hall, offices and a shopping mall.

NIEA Conservation Architect Dermot MacRandal said the Grade A listed building was a significant and distinctive part of Belfast's architectural heritage.

Mr MacRandal said: "The building has endured the effects of over 100 years of pollution, weathering and more recently civil disturbance. At its nadir Church House was rather unkindly described by one architectural historian as 'a harsh and craggy pile of Scottish-Tudor stone'.

"Thanks to this £1m grant, the Assembly buildings are now having a chance to reveal their real character. Earlier cleaning exposed the warm tones of sandstone stonework but also revealed extensive decay.

"This major renovation will repair and replace the affected stone, repair the crumbling parapets and replace the roof to secure the historic fabric."

Changes to the NIEA's Historic Buildings Grant Aid Scheme earlier this year mean that most listed buildings are now eligible to apply, increasing the number of eligible buildings by almost 50%.

(PR/JM)

Latest Construction News

03/05/2024

Construction work has commenced on a new £9 million build at Rowandale Integrated Primary School in Moira. Funding from the Fresh Start Programme will facilitate the establishment of a new, modern primary school, with 14 classrooms and a nursery unit capable of accommodating over 340 ...
03/05/2024

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. together with Leas Chathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Gerry McMonagle, has opened the Greencastle Harbour Breakwater. The 270-metre Breakwater aims to improve the protection of vessels in the harbour against wave ...
03/05/2024

NI Water has initiated a £3.5 million improvement programme at Newcastle Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW). Murphy Dawson Wam JV is undertaking the project, which focuses on improving the three-stage treatment process at the current facility. This will entail installing new filtration gear and a ...
03/05/2024

Bennett Construction has announced that it has achieved Practical Completion (PC) on the Tristan Square Development in Chapelizod, Dublin. The project includes the construction of 180 social and affordable apartments split in to one, two and three bed homes over three blocks. Each of the units are ...
03/05/2024

SSE Renewables and FuturEnergy Ireland have revealed that Microsoft has committed to a lengthy Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) with the co-developers. This agreement will inject 30MW of wind energy into Ireland's power grid through the recently launched Lenalea Wind Farm, located near ...
03/05/2024

Farrans has announced that it has collected three awards, including one Gold, at the Considerate Constructor Scheme's National Awards. The CCS National Awards honour outstanding sites, organisations and people who show exceptional commitment to the Code of Considerate Practice in Community, ...
03/05/2024

County Down headquartered GRAHAM has started construction work on a new £59 million low-carbon development in Edinburgh. The Burnet Point scheme in Abbey Lane which combines student flats, build-to-rent and affordable homes is the first-ever mixed-use residential development of its kind by Unite ...
03/05/2024

Alliance's Housing spokesperson, Kellie Armstrong MLA, has welcomed the NI Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA) commitment to reduce carbon emissions in social homes and combat climate change. Housing associations are currently in the process of developing a scheme set to launch this autumn. ...
03/05/2024

Fibrus has announced that it has exceeded its 80,000 customer milestone, as it gains over 50,000 customers in just one year. The broadband provider burst on to the scene to transform the digital infrastructure of rural and regional areas of Northern Ireland and has shaken up the market due to its ...
03/05/2024

Infrastructure Minister, John O'Dowd, has announced his support for the 'No Mow May' approach to help promote biodiversity on the roadside during this month. The Department for Infrastructure oversees the maintenance of 45,000km of grass verges along the road network. In recent years, it has been ...
O&O ConservatoriesLynch Windows LTDODonohoe Water Well DrillingConway Piling Ltd.Fitzpatricks LogisticsRoadmaster Caravans LimitedOGrady Crane Hire & TransportEnviroform SolutionsSnickers WorkwearSwyft Energy
Terms and Conditions
2024/05/04 21:31:44