£10m housing scheme for Seymour Hill

Jonathan Craig MLA who has worked closely with local community groups welcomed the land transfer of the site to Connswater Homes which plans to build 90 social houses.

This week, he met the Minister for Social Development Mervyn Storey at the Seymour Hill site.

“I would like to thank the Minister for Social Development Mervyn Storey, representatives from the South Eastern Education Board and Connswater Homes for all the work that they have done to secure this much needed investment for the area,” Mr Craig said.

“For several years working alongside Seymour Hill Community Association and Dales Community Association we have been trying to have the old school site redeveloped.

“With the transfer of part of the school site from the SEELB to Connswater homes this will open the door for the proposed 90 new social houses being built later this year at a cost of £10m.”

He continued: “For many years the demand and popularity for housing in the Seymour Hill area has grown extensively with many local families needing homes.

“With the Housing Executive waiting list sitting around 250, these additional 90 new homes will go some way to easing the housing pressures in the area.”

Mr Craig added, “These are exciting times for the Seymour Hill area, when the Old Dunmurry site is fully developed we will see much needed housing and a £150,000 play park funded by Connswater and a multi-use game area developed at a cost of £500,000 funded by Lisburn City Council. I would like to personally thank the community, statuary agencies and elected representatives who have worked on this project.”

Dunmurry High school closed two years ago after it had suffered from declining enrolments when just 110 pupils were attending the school.

Connswater plans to start the project later this year.