McCausland opens new £2million housing scheme in Londonderry

Housing Minister Nelson McCausland has unveiled new homes on the site of the former Rosemount PSNI site.
~ Wednesday, 15 June 2011

The Minister handed over keys to Rosemount Cottages’ first residents during his visit to Londonderry. The scheme of 17 family homes on the West Bank was completed in just 14 months.

Welcoming residents to their new homes, Minister McCausland said: “These new modern family homes have been built and designed to the latest standards that will protect tenants from the threat of fuel poverty in the years ahead. It is also fitting that these houses on the site of a former PSNI station have been designed with the support of the PSNI to make them as safe and secure as possible.”

During his first visit to the City since taking up his new portfolio Minister McCausland also called in to meet residents in Rinmore on the Creggan Estate to hear of progress to improve both the quantity and quality of housing in the area.

Rinmore residents recently voted overwhelmingly to the first stock transfer of its kind that will see responsibility and ownership of their homes transfer from the Housing Executive to a locally based Housing Association. As part of that arrangement the Housing Association will invest up to £3.2million of its own money to improve the homes and bring them up to a modern standard.

Minister McCausland said: "Since taking on my new portfolio, I have heard much about the scheme at Rinmore and the work put in by local people on the ground. That is why I was keen on my first visit to Londonderry to come here, meet residents and see for myself what has been so overwhelmingly voted for by them. This pilot which I fully support, has undoubted potential for other homes that also need extensive refurbishment. The injection of this private funding from the Housing Association has not only saved the tax payer over £3million, but has brought relief at last to residents who feared they would never see their homes refurbished.”

Minister McCausland later visited the Cathedral Youth Club, before going on a brief walkabout on the Fountain estate.

The Minister also took the opportunity to visit Social Security staff at the Pensions Service, Carlisle House and Lisnagelvin Jobs and Benefits Office.

Notes to editors:

Rinmore

1.  The proposal is to transfer 55 dwellings owned by the Housing Executive to Apex Housing Association.

2.  Thirty eight dwellings are to be improved (Rinmore Drive/Linsfort Drive/Balbane Pass) at a total cost of £1,758,604 excluding VAT (£46,280 per unit)

3.  Seventeen one bedroom bungalows are to be demolished and replaced by new social housing (Culdaff Gardens) at a cost of £1,590,562 (£93,560 per unit).

4.  The scheme is due to commence in August 2011 with an expected completion date of September 2012.

Rosemount

5.  The site was originally a PSNI police station for many years. The Association purchased the site on 27 February 2009.

6.  There are 17 new build, self contained, general needs dwellings

• 8 no. 3P 2B Houses
• 7 no. 5P 3B Houses
• 2 no. 6P 4B Houses

All dwellings have been built to Secured by Design, Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 and Lifetime Home Standards.

7.  Start date was 29 March 2010 with the site completed in June 2011

8.  View photos of the event on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/niexecutive/sets/72157626968493368/