§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what firm proposals have been put to him by private enterprise for(a) the development and (b) the redevelopment of the Arcadia in Portrush; [14405]
(2) what improvement or refurbishment works have been carried out to the Arcadia in Portrush in each of the last three years and the current year; and what sums were expended in each of these years; [14407]
(3) what proposals he has for the future development or redevelopment of the Arcadia site in Portrush; [14406]
(4) what investigations he has carried out into the structural soundness of the Arcadia in Portrush; what was the recommendation of the engineers involved; and when he expects to announce his conclusions as to the future of (a) the ballroom extension and (b) the rest of the building. [14404]
692W
§ Mr. MossThe private sector made a planning application in 1991 to redevelop the site for student accommodation. Planning permission was refused and a subsequent appeal to the planning appeals commission was dismissed.
No works for improvement/refurbishment have been carried out. During 1995, internal demolition works were carried out at a cost of £5,300.
The Department of the Environment, Works Service, carried out a preliminary property survey in 1993 and a detailed property survey in 1995. These confirmed that the ballroom was in a poor state of repair and that it would be feasible to retain the former Arcadia café building.
On 29 January 1996, the Department announced its intention to demolish the ballroom and invite development proposals for the cleared site while retaining the former Arcadia café building as part of any future development.