Environment Minister angry at demolition of poet’s home

The demolition of Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney’s former home in south Belfast has been vigorously criticised by the Environment Minister Dermot Nesbitt.

Heaney, who is originally from County Londonderry, lived in a house in Ashley Avenue, off the Lisburn Road, while he taught at Queen’s University, Belfast. However, despite a concerted campaign to stop demolition, work began today to bring the house down.

The Environment Minister said that he contacted the property developer yesterday in a bid to stave off demolition and buy time to conduct an architectural survey. The basis of this survey would then have determined whether it had the architectural and historical qualities needed to register the building as listed.

“I am both angry and disappointed that the developer didn’t give us that space,” Mr Nesbitt said today. “The property is not a listed building; it is not in a conservation area; and my Department does not yet have spot-listing powers.”

However Mr Nesbitt said his department was already preparing legislation to change the law where his officers could spot-list properties for architectural importance.

He added:“As ever, planning involves the weighing of the rights of the property owner and others in the wider public interest. I believe that my policy proposals for amending the planning law, currently before the Assembly, will significantly strengthen the listing and enforcement provisions of the planning law. I look forward to introducing the Bill in June and hope that it will proceed rapidly through its legislative stages.”

(AMcE)