First sod cut at Bay Road development

WORK has begun on a prestigious new energy efficient housing development at the site of the historic Drumalla House in Carnlough.

The former retreat centre on Bay Road was purchased from the Belfast Education and Library Board by Oaklee Housing Association, who have secured planning permission to build 18 houses at the site. Phase one of the development of 11 units of social housing for the area is now underway.

And Sylvia Doran, Oaklee group chairwoman, has visited the site to cut the first sod. She was joined by Mrs Thompson, an Oaklee tenant from McNeill Court in Larne, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday. Mrs Thompson grew up beside the former Drumalla House and recalled doing recitals for the family at the retreat centre over 80 years ago.

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Mrs Doran said the new development would make “significant contribution” to alleviating housing need in the village.

She added that the houses are to a very high specification in terms of sustainability and will be among the first in Northern Ireland designed and built to code for sustainable homes level 4 standard.

She said: “Oaklee are leading the way in energy efficient homes. The energy specification of level four for sustainable homes of this new development will bring much added benefits to the future tenants. I also welcome the support from the Department for Social Development and NI Housing Executive in this venture. The increased insulation, photovoltaic panels and mechanical ventilation heat recovery systems will also increase fuel efficiency and reduce running costs tenants.”

The development is a DSD funded pilot project under the Renewable Construction Demonstrator programme. It makes use of renewable products such as sheeps wool attic insulation and shredded newspaper cavity insulation. The timber frame dwellings will also have a Hempcrete -formed from the Hemp plant - outer skin in place of concrete and this scheme will be the largest in Ireland using this new technology. It is expected that the development will be completed by April 2011.

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