THE owners of a Co Tyrone quarry business have pressed ahead with a £30 million bid to turn the site of a former mansion near Larne into a retirement village.
Cairndhu House, located near Carnfunnock Country Park, was built in in the late 19th century for Scottish textile industrialist Stewart Clark.
It was bought by the Dixon family in 1918, but in 1947 the house and around 100 acres were donated for use as a convalescent home and hospital. The home was eventually closed in 1986.
The site was reportedly bought by well-known Belfast hotelier Lord Rana during the 1990s, but it’s understood the ownership has since changed hands.
The building was used as a location for the filming of Ridley Scott’s 2016 film Morgan.
In late 2018, a major new redevelopment was proposed by Desmond and Leon Loughran.
The latter is the current owner of Loughdoo Aggregates, near Cookstown. Mr Loughran also owns a care home near Donaghmore in Co Tyrone.
A full application, including listed building consent, has now been submitted to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for the site.
The proposal includes the restoration, conversion and partial demolition of Cairndhu House to provide 17 retirement apartments, with similar plans to convert a stable block into ten apartments.
It also provides for a 69-bed nursing home, nine independent living unit, five retirement cottages and a community resource centre.
Industry monitor Construction Information Services Ireland has put the estimated value of the entire project at around £30m.
The application has been submitted by Moneymore-based Manor Architects.
