Police to buy disused barracks?
By Iain Gray
THE PSNI are the front runners to buy the massive Kinnegar Barracks in Holywood.
The police have emerged as the ‘preferred bidder’ for the former army base, which has become increasingly derelict since the Ministry of Defence’s 2016 announcement that it was to close the complex.
The disused barracks have been deemed surplus to requirements by the Ministry, which has wanted to get rid of them for several years – though the sale process was held up by Kinnegar getting turned into an emergency mortuary during the Covid pandemic.
Now it has emerged that the PSNI is in hot pursuit of the site, with a spokeswoman stating the police have ‘expressed an interest in acquiring’ it and are now ‘identified as preferred bidder’.
It wasn’t clear what use the PSNI has in mind for the 54-acre barracks, though it could conceivably involve a new headquarters or training facilities – or a combination of the two.
Two senior local Alliance politicians, North Down MLA Andrew Muir and alderman Martin McRandal, welcomed the news, with Mr Muir stating that selling Kinnegar to the police would put many Holywood residents’ minds at ease.
Householders living close to the barracks were worried that a private developer would try to open more entrances and exits to the site, Mr Muir said, which would inevitably mean routing large numbers of motorists down residential Kinnegar Road.
But the MLA says he’s confident that the PSNI would stick with only having one way into and out of the site, via Airport Road West on the opposite side of the barracks to the residential area.
“Since plans to sell the base surfaced in 2016, I have consistently been on the record stating that consulting with and securing the buy-in of local residents is essential to any plans or works that may be undertaken,” he said.
“Alderman Martin McRandal and I have regularly raised our concerns on behalf of residents in the Kinnegar area, including worries arising from any possible opening of new access routes.
“It is my understanding that, although matters continue to be developed, the current intention is for access to remain closed to the public, and all traffic from the base will continue to enter and exit from Airport Road, thereby avoiding any further traffic issues arising in the Kinnegar residential area.
“I am grateful to the police for agreeing to meet alderman McRandal and I, and their commitment to ongoing engagement as this potential development progresses.”
Mr McRandal reinforced that any future owner of the site needs to ‘fully understand the needs of local people’.
“There has been lots of speculation and local worry about the future of the site, and this could be a viable option that works for the community,” he said.
“We will continue to engage throughout this process. I look forward to the PSNI engaging with all stakeholders over the coming months.”
