12/03/2009

Housing Boost For Belfast As Taggart Lands Sold

Plans to build 900 new homes in the Belfast area could generate up to 400 construction jobs, it has been revealed.

The Dermont Group said it intends to build the properties after acquiring lands from one of Northern Ireland's largest building group, which went into administration last year. Five sites, as well as a share in a sixth, were sold off by a division of the Taggart Group after sustaining business losses.

The Dermont Group now holds 87 acres of the land, 84 acres of which are within seven miles of Belfast city centre.

Most of the land has outline or full planning permission for residential accommodation.

Work on the first phase of 500 new homes at Dundonald and another 220 at Cairnshill in south Belfast is expected to begin next month. More than 100 properties will follow at Carryduff.

Administrator Garth Calow from PricewaterhouseCoopers said: "I am delighted that through this administration process we have been able to conclude a sale to the Dermont Group.

"The sites within this land bank are all in prime residential locations and in the past have been the subject of considerable interest from potential developers and investors."

Mr Calow added: "Successfully disposing of these sites in a single transaction will enable the release of value for creditors.

"With development work due to commence across these sites, this sale will also make a positive contribution to stimulating activity in the local house building and residential property markets."

(PR/JM)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

14 November 2024
Belfast Christmas Market Announces Dublin Express As Official Travel Partner
Belfast Christmas Market is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary in style, with the announcement of Dublin Express as its official travel partner. Opening its gates on November 16th at 12 noon, the market is expected to attract over a million visitors.
07 August 2009
Belfast Engineering Jobs Lost
Around 50 staff at a Belfast engineering firm lost their jobs today after the business folded. Last night, Central Group Services' management told workers at the Dee Street plant, in the east of the city, that the outlook was bleak. This afternoon they were informed that the company, which also employs 20 staff in the Irish Republic, would close.
24 January 2007
Woman rescued from fire in north Belfast
A woman has been rescued from a fire at an apartment block in north Belfast. Fire crews were called to the property at Queen Victoria Gardens in Fortwilliam at about 12.45am on Wednesday. A spokesman for the fire and rescue service said the fire was being treated as "suspicious".
11 April 2003
Seminar examines sectarianism in sport
Experts from across the world were converging on Belfast today to discuss ideas on how to rid Northern Ireland of sectarianism in sport. The seminar is being jointly organised by the Irish Football Association (IFA) who have recently used their Football For All campaign as a way of stamping out sectarianism at local international soccer matches.
29 April 2010
Belfast's Hidden Rivers 'Uncovered'
A new Belfast City Council supported arts project is to 'uncover' the hidden rivers that flow under Belfast's modern streets. 'Resounding Rivers' will draw attention to the importance of rivers such as the Blackstaff and Farset, as well as the Lagan herself, in the development and history of our city.