Minister dismisses DUP concerns over social housing plan

The minister, Nelson McCausland, became involved after a war of words at a planning meeting last month when DUP members voted to stall an application for social housing by Connswater Homes Ltd on the site which has been unused since the school closed its doors in 2007.

DUP Councillor Roy Young said he was “disappointed” the application had been approved by the Planning Service and asked for the decision to be reviewed by the Planning Service Management Board. Alderman Jonathan Craig also asked the council to write to the Minister for Social Development about the scheme which is for 15 houses and four apartments, two of which would be wheelchair accessible, as well as landscaped open space, parking and access.

In his response Mr McCausland said: “The housing mix being proposed has been supported by NIHE Area Planning as addressing the housing stress in the area and also, as it includes much needed wheelchair units. Connswater Homes is currently progressing the planning application and consulting on this scheme prior to finalising a scheme submission to the Housing Executive’s Development Programme Group.”

He continued: “Figures available confirm that the level of housing stress in the area is continuing to rise and although the site is 1.5 - 2.0 miles outside Lisburn, there is a regular bus service and it is the Housing Executive’s view that if the properties were provided, there would be no difficulty letting them.”

The Minister said he hoped his response helps clarify that the units are “needed in this area to meet housing and that Council be supportive of the opportunity this site presents not just to provide much needed family housing, but to also take account of the wheelchair housing also needed in the community.”

Ulster Unionist Councillor Ronnie Crawford warmly welcomed the Minister’s comments. He said: “He has clearly rejected the views of his own party colleagues on the council by his support for the 19 units and has been totally unconvinced by the case put forward by Councillor Young and his colleagues.

“I welcome the compassion shown by the Minister for the homeless and disabled in his statement.”

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