The demolition of Latharna House, the last remaining tower block in Larne’s Riverdale area, is set to begin later this month, marking the end of an era for the County Antrim port town. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has confirmed that work to dismantle the 16-storey building will commence in May 2026—more than three years after the final resident was rehoused and over a decade since its sister blocks were removed from the skyline.
The unoccupied high-rise, which has dominated the Larne skyline since the early 1970s, will be carefully deconstructed floor-by-floor due to its proximity to the busy A8 ring road. The project marks the latest step in the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s (NIHE) Tower Block Strategy—a programme approved seven years ago to address 33 blocks across Northern Ireland, yet one that has delivered only one other demolition to date.
Controlled deconstruction to last 52 weeks
NIHE has appointed B Small Contracts Ltd to carry out the demolition, with the contractor taking control of the site on 18 May 2026. Unlike explosive demolitions sometimes used for tower blocks, Latharna House will undergo a controlled, floor-by-floor deconstruction to protect nearby infrastructure.
- Duration: Approximately 52 weeks, depending on weather and site conditions
- Method: Mechanical deconstruction (not implosion) due to proximity to the A8 ring road and surrounding properties
- Preparation: Removal of all internal materials before structural work begins
- Completion: Site clearance followed by landscaping for community use
- Safety: Measures to protect nearby buildings and infrastructure throughout
Paul Isherwood, Director of Asset Management at NIHE, explained the technical approach:
“It is encouraging to see the demolition of Latharna House progress with the appointment of B Small Contracts. In the next few weeks, they will begin putting safety controls and environmental measures in place to begin their work. Given Latharna House’s proximity to the A8 ring road and nearby properties, a controlled floor-by-floor deconstruction has been agreed as the safest and most appropriate method of demolition. It is therefore anticipated that the carefully sequenced works will take approximately 52 weeks to complete, depending on site conditions and weather. We want to reassure local residents and businesses that our aim is to keep disruption to a minimum. It is vitally important that everyone in the local vicinity follows any safety advice around the site and residents and members of the public should not access the site at any time. We are grateful for the local community’s patience during the demolition process.”
Minister pays tribute to “town’s skyline”
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons acknowledged the structure’s emotional significance while emphasising the practical need for its removal. The block was approved for demolition in April 2023 under the NIHE’s Tower Block Strategy, though the final tenant was rehoused in March of that year.
“I am pleased to confirm that the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has appointed a contractor to proceed with the demolition of Latharna House, with works to begin shortly. The final remaining tenant of Latharna was successfully rehoused in 2023, and I welcome the recent progress that has brought us to this important milestone. I am conscious that the site holds many memories and that Latharna House has been part of the town’s skyline and story for more than half a century. However, it has now become an eyesore and attracts anti-social behaviour, so it is important that we look to the future. The demolition of Latharna House marks another positive step forward for Larne, and I look forward to seeing how the future site is remodelled by the Housing Executive for the benefit of nearby residents and the local community.”
Micheal O’Rourke, Contracts Manager at B Small Contracts Limited, pledged to minimise disruption:
“We are pleased to have been awarded the contract for the demolition of Latharna House in Larne. This is a significant and sensitive project, and it will be delivered by a team with extensive experience in the demolition of high‑rise tower blocks. Our priority will be to carry out the works safely, efficiently and with minimal disruption to the local community. We will work closely with the client and all relevant stakeholders to ensure the demolition is completed to the highest standards, while fully complying with environmental, health and safety requirements.”
Wider tower block strategy faces scrutiny over pace
Latharna House is the third and final tower to be demolished in the Riverdale area, following the removal of Shane House in 2007 and Gardenmore House in 2012. However, its demolition comes seven years after the NIHE Board approved the Tower Block Strategy in March 2019, which covers 33 towers across Northern Ireland.
To date, only Monkscoole House in Newtownabbey (demolished in 2023) has been fully removed under the strategy, though several others including Rathmoyne, Coolmoyne, Kilbroney House and Clarawood House are scheduled for demolition during 2026. The strategy estimates that maintaining all 33 towers would cost £308 million over 30 years—more than double the projected income from the properties.
The three-year gap between Latharna House being emptied and demolition commencing raises questions about the efficiency of the programme, particularly given concerns about anti-social behaviour in vacant properties and the ongoing housing shortage.
Unanswered questions over housing replacement
While the press release confirms the site will be landscaped for community enjoyment, it offers no detail on whether new social housing will eventually replace the lost units. This omission is significant given that the NIHE’s own strategy acknowledges the “disproportionate” maintenance costs of tower blocks, yet the region faces persistent housing waiting lists.
Key questions remain:
- Why did it take three years to begin demolition after the block was emptied, and what were the costs of securing the vacant building during this period?
- With only two of 33 towers demolished under the seven-year-old strategy, what specific bottlenecks are causing delays and how will they be resolved for remaining blocks?
- Will the landscaped site eventually accommodate new social housing to replace the lost units, or is the land intended for alternative community use?
- How does NIHE intend to balance the need for tower block demolition with maintaining sufficient affordable housing stock in high-demand areas like Larne?
- What measures are in place to ensure the 52-week demolition timeline does not slip, given previous delays in the wider programme?
The demolition represents a significant visual change for Larne, removing a structure that has defined the town’s entrance for over half a century. While the removal of an “eyesore” may be welcomed by many, the slow pace of the Housing Executive’s wider tower block programme—and the lack of clarity over what will ultimately replace these homes—ensure that scrutiny of the strategy will continue long after Latharna House has gone.