Save Havelock House

A campaign which fought to save Havelock House from demolition but lost.

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

We need your help to stop the demolition of Havelock House on January 8th. Sign our petition now.

https://t.co/4C4izqzmXC

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

We have decided that our campaign will continue under a different name and with objectives focused on ensuring that no other historic buildings in Belfast are demolished in the manner that Havelock House was.

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

@DocumentBelfast We'll probably have to change the name. But then we'd lose name recognition. It's a difficult one to figure out.

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

We are currently reviewing our decision to cease operations following the demolition of Havelock House.

We lost due to issues in the planning system. We are concerned that our disbandment may allow those who enabled the demolition to get away with it.

What do you think?

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

@JP_Biz And the plans confirm our view that Havelock House could have been retained.

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

Worth highlighting this to answer all the 'Why wasn't it listed?' questions.

And why did we not try again after 2020?

We couldn't for reasons which may eventually become apparent in due course.

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

@Alistair51 You obviously hadn't had much dealings with the listing authorities.

They turned Havelock House down based on a brief walkthrough of the building in the company of estate agents in 2018.

When we came with extensive evidence in 2020, they wouldn't even consider it.

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

@Alistair51 You obviously hadn't had much dealings with the listing authorities.

They turned Havelock House down based on a brief walkthrough of the building in the company of estate agents in 2018.

When we came with extensive evidence in 2020, they wouldn't even consider it.

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

We're totally devastated. It's shocking that a developer can waltz in and knock down a historic building without planning permission or even a public consultation.

Over the next few days, we'll slowly wind down our campaign. 1/3

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

This is our epitaph for Havelock House.

There'll be a more formal statement in a few days once we've processed what happened.

We will say that @belfastcc and its planning committee should be deeply ashamed for enabling this to happen.

[Save Knock Iveagh @saveknockiveagh]

@Alistair51 @HavelockSave You have a lot of faith in the system. Sadly it has repeatedly failed to protect or recognise important heritage, even going so far as to lose its legal standing in the process. There needs to be a serious rethink about how heritage is protected here.

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

Some good news for time capsule fans. There may be
two of them under Havelock House and Lotus has agreed to try to retrieve them.

@kensgriffin has supplied Lotus with rough locations but we'd be grateful for any further information about their whereabouts.

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

For the sake of clarity, we would add that we neither support or oppose social housing on the site.

We've always been neutral on reuse but believe that, in any case, the views of the local community should be respected. 3/3

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

At the moment, we're quite busy answering media requests about the building and how it came to be demolished. We're also trying to pinpoint the location of several time capsules. 2/3

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

I've checked with @kensgriffin - he will be contacting Lotus about the potential recovery of that time capsule and another one which we've received reports of.

[Mark Simpson 🏳️‍🌈🇺🇦 @mark_simpson]

There's a "time capsule" under Havelock House, as documented in this report from the early 1960s. Sadly the demolition starts on Monday, and I'd be surprised if anyone bothers to try to find it given the lack of interest shown by developers. https://t.co/S4RlSx3x3p

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

In less than 12 hours, demolition will have started on Havelock House.

It may be fashionable to blame @lotus_property but the ultimate authors of the building's demise was @belfastcc.

And this will keep on happening until councillors stop sitting on their hands.

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

We can't disagree with this.

The demolition of Havelock House has been enabled by @belfastcc's members through:

1⃣ Their failure to introduce local heritage protections
2⃣ Their complete passivity in the face of Lotus Property.

[dematerialise @dematerialise]

Councillors on @belfastcc Planning Cttee have decided its too difficult to oppose demolition so they've washed their hands of Havelock House ... effectively telling the public to stop making a fuss and forget about our shared history & sustainable future https://t.co/IlwddFppwq

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

@19grand @JamesEHennessey @lotus_property @ClanmilHousing @belfastcc The idiocy of @CommunitiesNI's historic environment division. They made mistakes when assessing the building and then covered it up.

[Belfast Buildings Trust @bbtbelfast]

BBT is dismayed that the demolition of Havelock House is going ahead. It has a unique place in Belfast’s social history.

Reusing the city’s buildings should be a priority for Belfast’s future and in tackling the city’s declared climate crisis.

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

@Alison_McW @SaveCQBelfast In hiding.

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

The situation is a real indictment of @belfastcc's councillors.

We've all seen how excitable they can get whenever a flag or Irish language sign is damaged.

But they are completely silent when our built heritage is being taken right in front of our eyes. (2/2)

[Save Havelock House @HavelockSave]

Less than 36 hours to go.

Most cities would kill for a building which was part of its linen boom, had secret wartime use and was a pioneering TV station. Think of the tourism!

Its impending demolition really sums up Belfast's totally lack of imagination. (1/2)