Almost 50 new apartments for former Carrickfergus factory site

Forty-eight new apartments were given the go-ahead at a meeting of Mid and East Antrim’s Planning Committee on Thursday morning.

The development is to be constructed by Clanmil Housing Group as part of a retirement village.

The proposal will see the construction of two 2.5 storey blocks instead of four planned initially.

The new homes will accommodate residents in the over 55 years age group.

The council’s head of Planning Paul Duffy told the meeting that the planning department is “satisfied that the proposed increase in density can be achieved without impacting on the residential quality of the scheme”.

He stated that no objections have been received.

He indicated that the development would be accessed from the public road within the retirement village.

He went on to say that the first phase will provide 17 detached houses, eight bungalows and 66 apartments during an 18-month period. The second phase is expected to include a nursing home.

A spokesperson for Clanmil said previously: “We’re excited for work to begin this year at 75 Belfast Road, where we’re working to provide much-needed homes.

“We’re looking forward to handing over in Spring 2023 where homes will be allocated from the Northern Ireland Common Selection Scheme. The scheme comprises of two blocks of 24 apartments with 21 two-bed and three one-bed properties in each block.

“These homes will be available to people aged over 55 and allocations will take place closer to the handover date.”

A retirement village was approved at the site in July 2019. This application included 321 residential units, comprising a mix of 138 apartments and 183 housing units and a medical centre with 40 assisted living units and a 94 bedroom nursing home.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter

Click here to read: Plans for 50 ‘much needed new homes’ in Carrickfergus

--

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.