Justification and Amplification: Key to Listed Building Survival

The key to the survival and upkeep of listed buildings is to keep them in active use. While the most appropriate use of an historic building will often be that for which it was designed, the Department accepts that new compatible uses should be found for historic buildings where they can no longer reasonably be expected to serve their original use and where the integrity of their built fabric is under threat. In an effort to increase public awareness of historic buildings in need of restoration, the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society in association with the Environment and Heritage Service has published "Buildings at Risk", a series of catalogues of historic and other important buildings in Northern Ireland which appear to be threatened. It is likely that the survival of such buildings will only be achieved through sympathetic schemes for their appropriate re-use. In most cases this will mean a use which is economically viable and may necessitate some degree of adaptation to the building.