Former Military Housing to be converted to meet housing need

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA today announced plans to purchase 112 former MOD homes and convert them to meet immediate housing need.

The homes are located in Pond Park, Lisburn and will mean over 100 families in housing stress will shortly be offered their own home much sooner than expected.

Commenting on this good news for Lisburn, Margaret Ritchie said: “There are currently 2,578 people on the waiting list for social housing in Lisburn, 1,587 of them in Housing Stress. These former MOD homes are in very good condition and can be quickly converted to bring them up to social housing standards. I am delighted that agreement has now been reached with Defence Estates to purchase these homes, particularly given the acute need for housing in Lisburn.

“When I launched the New Housing Agenda last year, I said that I would leave no stone unturned in my desire to address housing need. I am sure that the one hundred and twelve families who will now move into these homes will welcome this creative approach to help them off the waiting list much sooner than they could ever have imagined.'

Working in Partnership with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Oaklee Housing Association has been appointed to take ownership of the 112, three bedroom, semi-detached family homes which will start to be allocated from April this year once minor repairs and renovations have been completed. Within the development, capacity exists to build up to another 15 family homes and this will provide a further boost for those in housing stress in Lisburn.

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