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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has put up Kilkeel's former Vogue Cinema and Town Hall for sale prompting concern from a community development organisation. The Council are looking around £120,000 for the listed building.
Development Trusts NI has warned that a commercial sale may prioritise immediate financial return over the building's long-term value to the local community.
Charlie Fisher, Chief Executive of Development Trusts NI, said the proposed sale "represents a missed opportunity for community ownership, local regeneration and community wealth building."
According to Fisher, Kilkeel Development Association had invested considerable time in exploring a community asset transfer for the building. Fisher said that while the group's eventual business proposal may not have demonstrated sufficient sustainability, questions remain over why it was unsuccessful and whether the association received the support necessary to develop a viable plan. Fisher added that community ownership could have opened access to funding sources such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Fisher said "an enlightened approach would have explored community–public, community–private or combined partnerships before prioritising an open-market sale." While acknowledging the council has a duty to secure value, Fisher argued that value should not be measured solely by the £120,000 asking price, and that the building's potential contribution to local enterprise, employment, heritage and placemaking should also form part of that calculation.
Fisher noted that because the decision was discussed in closed session at the May Council meeting, the public has limited insight into the options that were considered. Development Trusts NI has called on the council to explain whether alternative ownership and partnership models were fully explored before the asset was placed on the market.
TDK Property are listing the 534.70sq m B2 listed building as a refurbishment / redevelopment opportunity. It's situated on around 0.4 acres and the developers describe it as "a large detached commercial building that was formerly used as a cinema / theatre". Internally the property retains the tiered seating and large stage area.
