McCausland launches new £7million housing scheme for Ballysillan

Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has officially started a new £7million family housing development in Ballysillan.
~ Wednesday, 29 June 2011

The Minister was on site to cut the first sod of the new 46 home scheme to be built by Clanmil Housing at Sunningdale Gardens.

The accommodation comprises 38 houses and eight apartments, with six of the apartments designed specifically to meet the needs of independent older people.

The new homes will be built to high levels of energy efficiency. All have been designed to Lifetime Homes and Secured by Design standards, ensuring added security for tenants and flexibility of adaptation if required at a later date.

Minister McCausland said: “These 46 new homes will be a welcome addition in an area that continues to have a high housing need. This significant investment will not only help to reduce waiting lists, but will bring new life back to this part of Belfast.

“These new modern homes have been designed to meet the needs of the local community. It is particularly pleasing to hear that residents who previously lived in the maisonettes that stood on this site in years gone by wish to stay in the area and will be allocated new homes in the scheme.”

Minister McCausland viewed plans of the scheme layout and praised local community members who worked with the Housing Executive and Clanmil on the design of the new scheme.

The Minister said: “I’d like to thank the Housing Executive for their help in facilitating the new build alongside their existing properties and acknowledge the support of Joan Totten from North Belfast Alternatives, who has worked along with Sunningdale Community Centre and Clanmil to help ensure the scheme delivers for the local community.”

Clare McCarty, Chief Executive of Clanmil Housing said: “Clanmil is committed to providing high quality homes for rent in areas of high housing need and we are delighted to see work start on the construction of these much needed new homes for North Belfast.

“We have worked closely with local community and political representatives to get the scheme to this stage and very much appreciate their help and support. We look forward to welcoming our tenants to their new homes towards the end of next year and to continuing to work with the local community to ensure the future success of this scheme.”

Notes to editors:

1. 1. Clanmil Housing is one of 30 housing associations registered with the Department for Social Development, giving access to grant for social housing. Clanmil is one of Northern Ireland’s leading housing associations with a stock of some 2,500 homes for rent.
2. 2. This 46 unit scheme comprises 38 x two, three and four bedroom houses and 2 x two bedroom apartments for families as well as 6 x two bedroom apartments for active older people over the age of fifty-five.
3. 3. Total cost of the scheme will be around £7.4m, with DSD funding £4.7m through the Housing Executive and Clanmil Housing funding £2.7m through private financing.
4. 4. The new homes replace 4 blocks of maisonettes owned by the Housing Executive which previously stood on the site. There were a number of voids in the blocks which had attracted vandalism before being demolished several years ago.
5. 5. Construction by Hugh J O’Boyle, Downpatrick is scheduled for completion for December 2012.
6. 6. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9454 or Fiona Nelson on 07816 157480. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440.
7. 7. Media enquiries for Clanmill Housing to Christine Ashfield on 028 9087 6000 or 075 951 18122 christine.ashfield@clanmil.org.uk
8. 8. View photos of the visit on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/niexecutive/sets/72157626950579831/