Northern Ireland nominees for the UK Housing Awards

Alpha Housing for Small Development of the Year

Alpha Housing’s latest development at Weir Brae provides fifteen apartments for older people near the centre of Comber within a single building.  All are three person two bedroom units built to ‘Lifetime Homes’ standards and two have been built to wheelchair standards.  The new building occupies a very steeply sloping part of the site that was initially considered unusable.  The resultant innovative design uses a split level arrangement with lower ground and upper ground levels separated by one full storey, allowing a single stair and lift to serve the entire building.  Substantial care has been taken to protect and develop the sense of community enjoyed within the cul-de-sac setting.

Clanmil Housing for Specialist Housing Provider

Clanmil Housing’s Mullan Mews is a supported housing scheme for older people with dementia in East Belfast.  It is managed in partnership with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and provides specialised accommodation and support for 30 older people with dementia helping them to maintain a high level of independence and social inclusion.  The physical design of the scheme, and the support provided, compensates for the disability caused by dementia and promotes an active and rewarding lifestyle for the tenants.

Trinity Housing for Development of the Year - Small Scheme

Cedar Court is a supported housing scheme from Trinity Housing located in Downpatrick.  The scheme provides 12 apartments for frail elderly and 12 apartments for residents with dementia related illnesses.  The apartments are in a single building designed to allow residents maintain their independent living with self-contained apartment accommodation but in an environment which stimulates social interaction.  This innovative housing scheme offers residents memorable landmarks, themed areas and ‘signposting’ with the use of displays for personal items and memorabilia.  Cedar Court is designed to meet ‘Lifetime Homes’ standards, ‘Secured by Design’ and ‘Code for Sustainable Homes - Level 3’.

Speaking of behalf of NIFHA Cameron Watt commented:

“I am delighted for the three associations which have received nominations this year.  They continue a prestigious line of nominees and award winners from Northern Ireland at the UK Housing Awards. 

“These schemes represent the excellent work being undertaken by NIFHA’s members and I wish them all well for 27 June.”

The UK Housing awards, now in their 16th year, recognise outstanding work in housing which improves the lives of people in their communities.  They are organised by Inside Housing magazine and the Chartered Institute of Housing and winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony at London’s Hilton Hotel on 27 June.

ENDS

About Housing Associations

• actively work to benefit the community by providing affordable accommodation and related housing services to those in greatest housing need
• manage nearly 38,000 units of rented accommodation - over a third of all social housing in NI
• have provided virtually all new social housing in NI since 1998
• provide accommodation for general needs and supported tenants
• are voluntary organisations dedicated to helping people obtain decent, affordable accommodation which meets their needs
• have collectively taken out over £626.2million of private finance to assist with social house building since 1991 

 About NIFHA (Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations)

• members of NIFHA include all 30 registered housing associations in NI and five non-registered housing associations
• promotes, represents and supports the voluntary housing movement in Northern Ireland
• promotes housing associations in Northern Ireland and speaks authoritatively on their behalf
• is independent of the government, political parties and private interests
• aims to be even-handed in working with, and on behalf of, its members
• expects accountability, respect, value for money and high quality services from the organisations that help meet housing needs
• offer members and associates a range of best-practice training programmes, including seminars and workshops, support with housing policy and research, communications, administration and finance
• is funded through a combination of member and associate subscriptions as well as enterprise income