Fifty-nine homes in social housing plan

The Department for Social Development confirmed the plans will follow a similar pattern to the previous properties purchased by Clanmil Housing Association in the area.

A spokesperson for the DSD said: “The Department can confirm that the Ministry of Defence has gifted 59 properties to the Northern Ireland Executive.

“The properties are located at Mountview Drive, Lisburn – it is planned that these will be transferred to and developed by Clanmil Housing Association as a mixed tenure housing development.

“This proposal is based on the model adopted for the previous 36 properties purchased by Clanmil that has been developed with local community and elected representatives and which will bring empty homes back into use, providing homes to address housing need.”

There was anger in the community at Clanmil’s plans to introduce social housing, when they previously purchased ex-MOD properties.

This was at what was perceived to be a lack of consultation and communication from the housing association but this time, community representatives, accompanied by Lagan Valley DUP Assembly member, Jonathan Craig, met with the DSD Minister, Lord Morrow MLA to discuss the housing transfer.

At the meeting the Minister provided assurances that the 59 houses will be made available as a mixed tenure scheme.

For example, a minimum of 50% of the houses would be sold to first time buyers, similar to the previous successful housing scheme in Mountview Drive.

Back then, 20 out of 36 properties were sold to first time buyers, under a new shared equity scheme.