Go ahead for £18m social housing scheme in Lisburn

THE go-ahead has finally been given for a new scheme which will see almost 150 new social homes built at Ballymacash.

Social Development Minister Alex Attwood announced this week work on the homes at Ballymacoss Hill will start within this financial year.

Just last week Lisburn Council had expressed their concern that funding for the development could disappear if work did not begin soon on the 18 million development, which will help alleviate what they called the "chronic waiting list" for social housing.

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The development will be the largest social housing scheme to start in Northern Ireland this financial year, providing 124 family houses and 22 apartments.

In what will bring a 12 million boost to the construction industry, the homes will be built on land previously owned by Lisburn City Council and the Housing Executive, and construction work is scheduled to commence in March.

Mr Attwood said: "This is a major investment for the people of Lisburn. Unfortunately, future budgets are under pressure but I have been able to secure sufficient funding to allow this scheme to proceed. This level of new housing, altogether on one site, will make significant inroads into local waiting lists.

"Lisburn will shortly see 146 new houses going on site which will be an immediate major boost to the local construction industry and associated supply chain. That has to be good news for all concerned in these difficult times."

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Lagan Valley MLA Paul Givan, who was due to debate the issue in Stormont next week, welcomed the announcement. He said: "The total investment will come to over 18m with the construction industry benefiting from 12m of contracts and Lisburn Council will receive 2.5m which will help meet the costs of major capital schemes such as Wallace Park without having to take out loans to finance these schemes.

"I am delighted that this deal has now been done and local people in urgent need of a home in housing stress will benefit from this scheme once it is completed."

Chairman of the Council's Corporate Services Committee, Councillor William Leathem added: "This news has been a long time coming and I am delighted by this week's announcement. The need for additional social housing in Lisburn is highest in the Ballymacoss area."

The Mayor and Chairman of the Housing Liaison Committee, Alderman Paul Porter, said: "At a time when the construction industry is experiencing unprecedented difficulties the building of 146 new homes is a massive injection into our local economy. Not only will the Ballymacoss scheme provide many families with modern, well designed accommodation in a popular area it will also provide local businesses with new opportunities and customers."

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Alderman Ivan Davis, a long time housing campaigner, also welcomed the news. He said: "With future budgets under pressure I'm delighted that this scheme will proceed. At the end of March this year there were in Lisburn District almost 2000 people on the waiting list. The Minister's announcement is also a boost for the construction industry."

He continued: "However a serious concern was the current overall rent arrears in both Lisburn districts of 572,000 and while this had been decreased compared to previous years, the future did not give much hope pending the trend of the present economic situation, bearing in mind 414,000 was owed by past tenants."

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