A new £6.2m shared housing development in Antrim has been launched by Choice in partnership with the Department for Communities (DfC) and the NI Housing Executive. Fountain Hill, located at Stiles Way, Antrim will provide a mix of 34 houses for general family households as well as accommodation for wheelchair users and over-55s.
Fountain Hill is supported by the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s ‘Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme. With origins in the NI Executive Together: Building a United Community Strategy, this programme reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society.
Choice Group Chief Executive Michael McDonnell said,
“This investment in the Antrim and Newtownabbey area further demonstrates the commitment of Choice to offering quality affordable homes whilst supporting the local communities that we develop in. This project follows previous investment of £7.2m from Choice across the council area over the last five years with plans for further investment over the next five.
“As a housing association, Choice continues to show real leadership in shared housing, with allocations in an increasing number of new build schemes purposefully drawn from across communities. Choice is determined to create and sustain diverse, integrated and ultimately more stable and thriving neighbourhoods, grounded in mutual respect.”
The new project has been developed in collaboration with Bangor West Ltd and MWA Architects. The development will be delivered over two phases, and will include 34 social housing units across a mix of two-bedroom and three-bedroom houses and one and two-bedroom apartments and are expected to be completed and handed over by the end of 2024.
Colum Boyle, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Communities attended the launch event and added,
“Increasing the supply of social housing is a priority for the department. Work is ongoing with housing associations to facilitate the delivery of quality homes which reflect the vision and future of social housing in Northern Ireland.
“The Shared Housing Programme aims to improve choice and remove barriers to accessing quality homes across the region. This new development in Antrim makes an important contribution to this and we are pleased to be partnering with Choice on this project.”
As part of the Shared Housing Programme, Choice has committed to engaging with local stakeholders, residents, and statutory agencies to establish an Advisory Group that will support the development of a five-year Good Relations Plan for Fountain Hill and the surrounding estates. This plan will aim to deliver tailored initiatives for the local community in an effort to strengthen community relations and form new partnerships for the good of the local area.
Choice provides a mix of supported, sheltered and general needs housing across Northern Ireland, providing over 12,000 homes across the region. The association currently operates five shared housing developments across Northern Ireland located in Dungannon, Ballynahinch, Saintfield, Ballymena and Lisburn.
