Ballycastle Landmark Faces Demolition Amid Safety Concerns

A landmark building in the heart of Ballycastle could soon disappear from the townscape after a planning application was lodged to demolish the Antrim Arms Hotel, a historic structure on Castle Street.

Maplemanor Properties Ltd, the building’s owner, has applied for listed building consent to raze the former hotel entirely, citing serious safety concerns. The structure has been deemed dangerous by two separate structural engineering reports, with sections of it now unstable, including a detached staircase, cracked walls, and unsupported floors.

The Antrim Arms, which has stood in various forms since the mid-1700s, has a long history as a coaching inn, brewery, distillery, bank and hotel. But decades of modifications, utility work, and storm damage — most recently from Storm Eoghan — have left it in a perilous state. The building has no foundations, and its walls are constructed from a mixture of materials hidden beneath render.

In its submission to Causeway Coast and Glens Council, Maplemanor argues that partial demolition — specifically the removal of the gable wall by hand from a crane-mounted basket — would cost over £1 million and take almost a year to complete. The company says it cannot afford this and instead proposes full demolition at a cost of around £120,000.

"The quickest, most cost-effective, and least disruptive course of action is to demolish the entire building, making the area safe for everyone," the application states.

Local residents and traders have also been affected by the building's condition. The footpath and sections of Castle Street have faced ongoing closures, while repeated break-ins, vandalism, and theft have turned the site into what the applicant describes as "an eyesore."

Despite council-installed protective fencing, the structure has continued to deteriorate, with slates stolen from the roof and graffiti scrawled on its walls.

The company has pledged to replace the demolished building with a development that reflects the historic style of the original, but with modern materials and full accessibility. They argue that the current building is incompatible with contemporary standards for inclusivity and public space.

The proposal will now be considered by council planners under strict heritage regulations, including the Planning (Listed Buildings) Regulations and PPS 6 guidance, which normally protect buildings of historic and architectural interest.

But with structural engineers warning that doing nothing is no longer an option, the fate of one of Ballycastle’s most recognisable buildings may soon be sealed.