05/06/2013

£5m Housing Opened In North Belfast

A new £5m social housing scheme in has been opened in north Belfast.

The opening of the 40, two-bedroom apartments follows the development of Brookfield Mill, a former linen mill.

The five-story accommodation was provided by Flax Housing Association with part funding from the Northern Ireland Executive through the Department for Social Development.

Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland opened the scheme this afternoon.

He said: "I am pleased to be here and hand over the keys to this new social housing development. It is a great achievement to be able to introduce so much vitality back to something that once played such an important part in this community.

"Unused buildings can often blight an area and bring problems of their own, so it is good to see that imaginative thinking on this site has provided a new and very real benefit for local people."

The new homes have been built to high-energy efficiency specifications including Secured by Design and Lifetime Homes accreditation.

The development also features a first floor communal garden area and secure gated car parking at ground floor level underneath the complex.

John Patterson, Chair of Flax Housing Association, who accompanied the Minister, said: "We are delighted that Minister McCausland could officially open Brookfield Mill housing development this morning. The scheme provides safe and secure accommodation for 40 families and meets the highest design standards.

"In this area of North Belfast, demand for social housing continues to grow and Flax Housing will continue to seek opportunities to provide good quality social housing for those in need."

(IT/MH)


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