No sale timescale for former Ballymena college as Crawford seeks site meeting
The former Northern Regional College building in Ballymena
Thursday 01 October 2026
Ballymena’s former Trostan Avenue college campus has no timescale for a sale, prompting Ulster Unionist representative Colin Crawford to seek an on-site meeting over security while a buyer is sought.
A Department for the Economy response has confirmed that Northern Regional College is responsible for managing the vacant property and has instructed Land and Property Services to place it on the open market.
Mr Crawford welcomed the progress towards a sale but said residents and businesses needed the site to be properly managed in the meantime, following fire incidents, vandalism and unauthorised access.
Department confirms responsibility for site
Mr Crawford wrote to the Department on 20 September, raising concerns from people living and working nearby and requesting improved security, clarity over the property’s future and a meeting with those responsible.
His letter followed a fire on Saturday 19 September, when two appliances from Ballymena Fire Station and one from Antrim attended. NIFRS said the cause of the small rubbish fire inside the building was believed to be deliberate ignition.
The Department’s response confirmed that NRC retains responsibility for the site. The college has advised that windows and doors were boarded after it moved out, with further perimeter fencing and warning signs subsequently installed. It has also been engaging with the PSNI about security.
Sale process has no fixed timetable
Ballymena Ulster Unionist Party representative Colin Crawford
Following the consolidation of NRC’s Ballymena provision at its new Farm Lodge campus, Trostan Avenue was declared surplus and entered the public-sector disposal process. No other public bodies expressed an interest.
The college has now instructed Land and Property Services to place the site on the open market. According to the response outlined by Mr Crawford, it will remain on the market until a suitable bid is secured, with no timescale for a sale.
“The important news is that Trostan Avenue is moving towards the open market. I want to see that process progressed and, ultimately, this site brought back into productive use,” Mr Crawford said.
“But we also have to be realistic. There is no timescale for a buyer to be found, and the problems residents are dealing with are happening now. We have already seen vandalism, unauthorised access and repeated call-outs to the emergency services. We cannot simply wait for a sale and hope nothing else happens in the meantime.”
Questions over effectiveness of security measures
Mr Crawford said the Department’s response had answered some of his questions, particularly about responsibility for the site and the process for its disposal.
“I welcome the additional fencing and other security measures that have been put in place, but I want to hear directly from NRC about how effective these measures have been and what more can be done if people are continuing to gain access.”
He now intends to contact Mark Lennox, NRC’s Head of Facilities & Operational Development, as recommended by the Department, and request a meeting at Trostan Avenue to inspect the security arrangements and discuss local concerns.
He will also seek clarification on when the property will be formally marketed and how progress towards a sale will be communicated.
Site meeting and future use in focus
Mr Crawford said he would continue engaging with nearby residents and businesses, passing further incidents or concerns to NRC and the relevant authorities, while keeping the site’s future use on the agenda.
“There is now a route forward through the sale process, but until that happens I will keep pushing for the site to be properly managed and secured. I’ll also be contacting NRC directly and asking to meet them on site. I want to see the situation for myself, hear what is being done and make sure the concerns of local people are being heard.”
Alongside those immediate concerns, he said the sale offered an opportunity to pursue a positive future for the former campus:
“This is a significant site in Ballymena and I would like to see a positive future for it. My focus now is making sure it is kept safe and secure while the disposal process moves forward, and that local residents are kept informed.”
