New family housing in Downpatrick by Clanmil

The development of 13 houses and six apartments by Clanmil Housing has been allocated to families from the housing waiting list. The two and three bedroom properties have been built to high energy efficiency levels, with double glazed windows designed to maximise natural light and highly rated insulation fitted as standard. The houses have solar roof panels fitted to assist water heating.

Pictured on the right is four-year old Madison Hamil helping the Minister for Social Development Nelson McCausland plant a tree to mark the opening of Clanmil’s new scheme.  She is being assisted by Clanmil's Chair, Joan Baird, her mum Aislinn and baby brother Jacob.

During his visit Minister McCausland said:

“My Department requires that all new social housing is constructed to high levels of sustainability and energy efficiency. These new homes have been built to an exacting standard and I have been most impressed by what I have seen.

“Clanmil Housing is to be congratulated for providing this much needed accommodation in an area that continues to have a high housing need.

“This was a difficult site to develop and everyone involved clearly went the extra mile in terms of design and construction to make it happen. The result, closely integrated with all the existing infrastructure and local amenities, has been hugely successful. This new modern housing will make a huge difference to the daily lives of all who live here.”

The Minister praised the partnership between Clanmil Housing, the Housing Executive and the local community that had made the scheme possible.

Joan Baird, Chair of Clanmil Housing said:

“We are delighted to welcome our new tenants to Ardilea Close and wish them well as they settle into their new homes and new community. Clanmil is committed to providing housing that really meets our tenant’s needs, not just in terms of quality homes and affordable rents, but also in relation to the cost of living in those homes.”

“These homes at Ardilea Close have been designed and built to a very high environmental standard, making them up to 40% more energy efficient than standard houses and considerably cheaper for our tenants to run.”

Mrs Baird added: “We are very grateful to the local community and their political representatives for their assistance in delivering this scheme and look forward to continuing to work together to ensure that Ardilea Close is a really good place to live.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Clanmil Housing is one of 30 housing associations registered with the Department for Social Development, with some 2,891 homes for rent
2. This 19 unit family housing scheme comprises 13 x three bedroom houses and 6 x two bedroom apartments. Total cost of the scheme was £2.7million, with DSD funding £1.6 million through the Housing Executive and Clanmil Housing funding £1.1 million through private financing.
3. View photos of the visit via DSD's Flickr account http://www.flickr.com/photos/niexecutive/sets/72157630298090352/