Newtownabbey councillor raises concerns about housing stock

Glengormley SDLP Cllr Noreen McClelland has raised concerns about the growing gap between housing need and the “ever-apparent lack of new social homes” in the greater north Belfast area.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Cllr McClelland has also said that some of the “extremely poor conditions of the current housing stock must be addressed”.

She said: “Covid-19 has brought into stark focus how important our homes are to us. As we spend more and more time confined in our homes, we recognise the value of a safe, secure and affordable place to call our own.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“For many of us our homes are havens, but there are those whose homes are more like prisons, and then there are some who do not have a home at all. This is unacceptable.

Concerns have been raised about housing stock.Concerns have been raised about housing stock.
Concerns have been raised about housing stock.

“It is imperative as we begin to take steps out of the worst stages of this pandemic, that housing plays a central role in our recovery. The building of new social homes has the potential to re-energise the construction industry, create jobs and improve health outcomes.

“It is my firm belief that it also has the power to rebuild and rejuvenate whole communities. There is no wasted money invested in housing.

“Though the current budgetary situation looks bleak, it is vital that the Department of Finance work with the Department for Communities to ensure the financial allocations to allow for an ambitious new build programme, as well as delivering money that enables us to invest in the current stock.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Only investment will ensure that we have homes fit for purpose. It is that investment that will ultimately help the communities we serve to thrive again on the other side of this.”

Last year the Newtownabbey Times reported that Apex Housing Association announced proposals seeking to deliver approximately 110 high-quality new social homes on the former Newtownabbey Community High School site in Rathcoole.

For more on this story, read here--

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We’re more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers. Please consider purchasing a copy of the paper. You can also support trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription of the News Letter.