Local people ‘missingout on new social housing’ in Lisburn

Representatives from Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Ulidia Housing Association and the PSNI attended alongside the public and local councillors.

The meeting hear there is much anger about the way housing is allocated in the new Ballymacoss Hill development

Councillor Ronnie Crawford said: “Ballymacash residents expressed their views with strength and conviction that the allocation of houses in the Ballymacoss Hill development must be done in a manner which would not import anti-social behavioural problems to the area.”

Mr Crawford said there was great dismay that the NIHE points system for allocating homes gave no advantage to local people wishing to continue to live in the area in which they were born and bred.

“The points system seems to unfairly disadvantage those from stable families as priority is given to people with no connection whatsover to the area if they fall into the category for ‘stress housing’ and it there are concerns it can be dishonestly manipulated,” said Mr Crawford.

He added: “The Lisburn North Community is a very strong and well organised body and it clearly seeks to ensure new families have something positive to contribute to the area and are also willing to accept the core values of the existing community.”

Mr Crawford said: “The points system needs to be revised to ensure that local families who do the right thing should not be barred from housing in their own community. The present system is destroying that sense of community spirit which has been built up over many years and is the result of the dedicated work of many local people.

“Our MLAs should seek to ensure a fairer system of housing allocation is put in place.”

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