140 social homes to be built in next three years

140 social homes to be built in next three years

21 February 2018

OVER 140 new social homes are to be built in Downpatrick, Crossgar and Dundrum.

The schemes are part of an ambitious plan by Clanmill Housing to build 1,200 new social homes across the province over the next three years.

Work has started on the construction of almost 40 homes at the former Downe Hospital in Downpatrick, while work will start shortly to build 20 new homes at Downpatrick Street in Crossgar.

In addition, work is already underway at Main Street in Dundrum to provide 16 new social homes to help ease the pressure on the waiting list for homes in the village.

Clanmill officials unveiled the detail of their development plans for the district last week when they met with local politicians, including Newry, Mourne and Down Council chairwoman Roisin Mulgrew.

She said the meeting addressed the assistance that can be given to identify and secure land and development opportunities which could facilitate more much-needed homes.

Clanmill’s group director of development, Carol McTaggart, outlined the organisation’s housing plans for the district during the meeting.

“We plan to start work on the construction of 20 new homes in Crossgar in late spring and have also started the first phase of work to provide 37 new homes at the former Downe Hospital site in Downpatrick,” she said.

“Sixteen new homes are under construction at Main Street in Dundrum and together, the three developments will eventually provide a total of 141 new homes for rent by people on the housing waiting list.”

The housing official added: “These homes are part of ambitious growth plans that will see Clanmil Housing Group deliver 1,200 new homes throughout Northern Ireland over the next three years.”

Local councillors Dermot Curran and Billy Walker have welcomed plans for the new-build projects and hope they will ease the increasing pressure on the district’s social housing waiting list.

Cllr Curran said he was delighted that the former Downe Hospital site is to be redeveloped and said the project would help with the social and economic regeneration of Downpatrick, while Cllr Walker said he was pleased that work on the Crossgar scheme will start in the spring, given the number of people seeking public sector housing in the village.