A planning application has been lodged with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council to convert a storage building beside a shop at 14 Ann Street, Ballycastle, into two short-term letting units.

The property, which lies within the Ballycastle Conservation Area, is currently used for storage and is in a poor state of repair. The proposal would reuse the existing traditional building without any new construction or extension.

A planning statement submitted with the application argues the change of use would strengthen the local tourism economy by providing visitor accommodation within walking distance of shops, restaurants, public transport and the town’s main attractions.

It notes that Ballycastle serves as a gateway to Rathlin Island, the Glens of Antrim and the Causeway Coastal Route, and that visitor demand is increasing.

The statement says the scheme supports strategic planning objectives by making efficient use of an existing building and promoting sustainable development in a town centre location.