Marlborough House, a building in Craigavon built in the 1970s, may be listed by the Department for Communities. The proposed Grade B1 listing would provide protection for the building, despite it being almost fifty years old and many moving out of it. Marlborough House was built as part of an ambitious plan to create a new city in Northern Ireland. The sizeable square office block has 108 oval-shaped windows in front, not what most people picture when they think of a listed building. However, John Anderson of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society said the building has potential for a multitude of uses. He added that it was of ‘national and possibly international importance’.
Alderman Gareth Wilson of the DUP, on the Planning Committee of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council, said that members’ were surprised by the proposition, and that it would be seen as a ‘corporate’ loss. Given its position, corporately the council feels that it’s too prime a location just to have it hamstrung with a listing procedure. It’s quite tight. It’s quite restrictive, and we think it would really damage the economic benefit that this site would bring to everyone in Craigavon.
Paul Haughey, a cyclist who was crossing the bridge between Marlborough House and the Rushmere Centre whilst being interviewed said “It’s a bit of a Lego building in some respects”, crossing the bridge in the background, whilst Cynthia Jaunslaviete is in favour of keeping it as “It’s been there for years”. David Graham and Stephen Brown think that it is unique.
The original vision of Craigavon was never achieved and now the debate is whether to preserve or redevelop. A consultation period on whether to list Marlborough House is currently ongoing. The building’s facade and architecture both mean it is regarded as of ‘national and possibly international importance.
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