Other News In Brief

Alliance Welcome Transfer Of Lisburn MOD Homes

An Alliance representative for Lisburn has welcomed the Department for Communities announcement of 59 new social housing and affordable homes for the area as part of an MoD refurbishment scheme.

Stephen Martin said the news for Clanmil Housing came after "a long and protracted delay". The properties at Mountview Drive and Skyline Drive will be transformed into new homes for the local community.

Alderman Martin said: "The delay has had unfortunate and completely avoidable knock-on effects for the whole area, but particularly for those who lived closest to the houses. There has been a cross party effort to progress the transfer and thanks must go to Clanmil for staying with the project for as long as they have.

"I welcome the fact while 30 of the homes will be for much needed social housing, the other 29 will be affordable homes available for purchase to those wanting to get on the property ladder. This is a sensible housing mix and will contribute to a strong sense of community.

"Most importantly, full credit is due to Mountview, Skyline, Oakridge and Hillview residents, who together with Harmony Hill Community Group and Lambeg and District Ratepayers' Association have campaigned tirelessly for the last number of years to keep the ongoing issues of anti-social behaviour top of the agenda.

"The transfer represents a huge opportunity for the area and hopefully marks the beginning of a new chapter for everyone concerned."

SDLP Call For Govt Overhaul Of Roads Funding

The SDLP has called for a radical rethink of structural road maintenance funding after successive reports revealed serious deficiencies in the strategy with the absence of an Executive.

South Down MLA Sinead Bradley said that public safety must be prioritised after the damning Audit Office report. She commented: "For too long, our roads budget has been used as a safety valve for in-year pressures in other departments. It needs a dedicated, well resourced, multi-year budget line to deal with the systemic problems in the network.

"People using our roads every day know what it's like navigating a minefield of potholes. The patchwork approach to date simply isn't working and it's more expensive than a robust resurfacing programme in the long run. Senior officials themselves would admit to these shortcomings.

"What's needed is a fundamental rethink about roads funding in the North. That means looking at new methods of life-cycle costing for surfacing projects, examining how we reduce congestion and reduce the number of vehicles on our roads to improve surface lifetimes and considering alternative funding mechanisms. These are significant changes that need political and ministerial leadership. Our roads cannot continue to be a casualty of political failure."

Plans For Major L'Derry Housing Development Approved

A major private residential development comprising 750 new homes in L'Derry has been given the green light by council.

The £100m investment by development company South Bank Square Ltd is the latest tranche of housing to be announced for the Crescent Link and will relieve housing stress in the city, as well as creating employment in the area over the duration of the building work.

The 37.5 acre site is situated in the Waterside area to the east of Clooney Road overlooking the Caw roundabout. The neighbourhood will feature a small convenience retailer as well as play spaces.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor John Boyle, welcomed the news, saying: "This is a major development for the city and welcome news for home buyers. The creation of responsibly designed new neighbourhoods with good quality housing and amenities is a key priority of the Local Development Plan for Derry and Strabane. I am particularly pleased to see that these plans will also involve the improvement of the road infrastructure in the area around the Caw Roundabout. I look forward to seeing the plans move now to the next stage and work beginning on site as soon as possible."

Speaking after the meeting, Chair of the Planning Committee, Councillor Warren Robinson, said the development would have a positive impact on the city. "I am delighted to see these plans progressing," he declared. "The sheer scale of the development will have a major impact on the area and the entire city in terms of creating much needed quality homes for new buyers.

"It's also positive news for the local building trade as developers anticipate the work will create 90 full-time jobs for the ten years of construction involved. I look forward to seeing the more detailed plans being brought before planners and to the creation of a vibrant, modern new neighbourhood in the Waterside area."

The 750 homes will include a range of housing designs, with detached and semi-detached homes, apartments and town houses. Developers have outlined plans for significant improvements to the road infrastructure in the area, as well as a bus service for the development.



(JG/CM)