Housing plan at Joymount site

Plans by Clanmil Housing Association to build 47 new homes at Joymount were revealed last week.

The proposed site is currently taken up by the old Woodside’s supermarket building.

On August 31, the housing association held a public information event at Carrickfergus Library in relation to the plans.

“The proposed scheme includes 24 apartments for active older people, 16 houses and four apartments for families, along with three homes specially adapted to meet individual tenants’ specific health needs,” a spokesperson for Clanmil said.

“An application for planning has now been submitted to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and, subject to planning, it is hoped that construction will begin by Spring 2017.

“Clanmil will continue to keep local community and elected representatives updated as the scheme progresses.

Welcoming the housing proposals was East Antrim Alliance Party MLA, Stewart Dickson. “I commend Clanmil Housing Association on their excellent consultation with the community to date,” he said. “I also trust that Mid and East Antrim Council planners and elected representatives will ensure that this much needed facility becomes a reality.”

Last year, the Times reported that the planned development was subject to a number of archaeological conditions.

A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency said: “The application site contains part of the remains of Joymount Orchard Wall, belonging to Joymount House, part of which is scheduled for protection under the Historic Monuments and Archaeological Objectives Order (Northern Ireland) 1995.

“The development site is also located within an Area of Archaeological Potential (AAP) identified for the historic settlement of Carrickfergus.”

Assurances would be required to ensure that any archaeological remains within the application site are properly identified and protected or appropriately recorded in advance of new construction, the spokesperson added.