Green light for social housing with pathway ‘right up to the Home Bargains store’
A major Lisburn social housing scheme is to have a direct pathway to a Home Bargains discount store.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s planning committee signed off on almost 120 new homes, however anti-social behaviour concerns were raised. The Clanmil Housing and MJ McBride application is said on the Northern Ireland planning portal to be on the Ballinderry Road, Lisburn “east of the Home Bargains store”.
Committee chairperson James Tinsley said: “Will there be a direct footpath to Home Bargains?” He added: “We have had problems in the past in Lisburn with social housing how will you be managing the tenants?”
A spokesperson for the applicant replied: “We will have a pathway up the Ballinderry Road, right up to the Home Bargains store.”
The chamber heard that the development would be for 113 social housing units with six privately let apartments through Clanmill. The spokesperson added: “The current council policy is for of 20% social housing to be provided in housing developments, but that is just a minimum. We will have a robust anti-social management procedure in place.”Cllr Nicholas Trimble said: “There is a real need for social housing in the area. “If these plans were for 100% social housing I would still vote for it.”
The council has previously lobbied the Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons to review the allocation system of housing associations when it came to “unacceptable behaviour” of residents.
Concerns were raised over Clanmill properties at Graham Gardens and Woodbrook Avenue in the city being plagued by anti-social behaviour and crime for a number of years, which has included violent incidents.
Cllr Tinsley added: “There certainly is a real need for local housing, but I would implore Clanmil to take on the concerns of elected members and community to have it well managed.”
The new homes are being funded by Clanmil with support for the social homes from the Dept. for Communities through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
The application was one of three Clanmil schemes to be approved at the same planning committee including, 75 homes at the former Charles Hurst motor showroom and 16 new homes in Dromara.
A released Clanmil statement read: “Together, the three developments will bring 210 much needed new social and private rental homes to Lisburn and Dromara, representing a combined investment of over £50m.”
Clanmil executive director, Jan Sloan added: “These schemes will make a meaningful contribution towards addressing critical housing need in the area and are great news for people who are waiting for a good home. “The developments also represent a major investment in Lisburn and Castlereagh and we are looking forward to getting started on site and to working closely with our development partners to deliver these much-needed homes.”
The director of MJ McBride Construction, Michael McBride commented: “We have worked closely with our design team, led by RPP Architects and Gravis Planning, alongside Clanmil Housing, elected representatives and the local community to bring forward a scheme that will integrate with the surrounding area and provide high-quality homes for local families.“MJ McBride has an excellent relationship with Clanmil Housing and we look forward to further strengthening our partnership as this project moves forward, with work expected to commence in the coming weeks.”