Consultation overcontroversial social housing plan extended

RESIDENTS in private housing in the Redwoods area of Dunmurry opposed to plans by the developer to sell apartment buildings in the development for social housing have been told that Clanmil, the Housing Association behind the plan, have extended the consultation period to six weeks.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Mar 2012, 08:45 BST

Residents, who say they paid ‘top dollar’ for their homes, met with Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson at the end of last week to discuss the issue.

Since then Mr Donaldson and MLA Jonathan Craig have met with the Chief Executive of the housing body and Clanmil has agreed to extend its consultation period for a full six weeks.

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Mr Donaldson said: “It should have been six weeks in the first instance. This will provide more time to continue putting the residents’ case forward.”

Mr Donaldson said that while there is a need for social housing there are other sites available and “much better located and integrated in the community”.

One concerned householder, Iain Scott, stressed the residents are not against social housing but against it being forced on them.

He said that unrest is growing in the development and residents are very concerned but he said he was pleased that Clanmil have agreed to one resident representing the development to speak during a forthcoming Clanmil Board meeting.

Related topics:Jeffrey DonaldsonResidentsJonathan Craig