17 June 2014
The Planning Minister has refused an application to rebuild the ruins of a farm at Egypte demolished by German forces during the war, as recommended by the Planning department.
The owners of Egypte Farm want to rebuild two homes and garages on a long-abandoned and ruined farm complex in what is described as a scenic part of rural Trinity, zoned as Coastal National Park. All that remains of Egypte Farm is a series of ruined walls.
The Minister considered that the development was too large, but indicated that he would have greater sympathy with less development concentrated on the south of the site and with greater environmental benefits.
The farm is understood to have been taken over by German forces during the occupation. It’s thought the buildings were partially demolished to use as a training ground for the troops in street and house-to-house fighting.
The land has been in the same ownership since 1936 and the applicants state it was never intended that the farm was abandoned. They also state that efforts to rebuild it over the years have been unsuccessful for a variety of reasons.