Belfast·LDP Plan Strategy 2035 (adopted 2023)·Page 123·7.4.13
Presumption in favour of retaining listed buildings
Listed buildings should be retained except in unavoidable circumstances; demolition will not be approved merely for economic advantage over repair and reuse, nor where structural issues result from neglect, and evidence of attempts to find alternative uses is required.
There will be a presumption in favour of retaining listed buildings. Very occasionally demolition of a listed building will be unavoidable although consent will not be given simply because redevelopment is economically more attractive than repair and re-use. Structural issues will not be given substantive weight when making a case for demolition where these have arisen due to neglect of a building through lack of maintenance or failure to secure by current or previous owners. Evidence will also be required that all efforts have been made to retain the building through finding an alternative use, which may not be the preferred use of the developer.
Source — /Users/richardhill/Documents/planning-arch-project/data/documents/belfast/LDP Plan Strategy 2035 (adopted 2023).pdf