A planning application for 34 new social housing units in the Glens of Antrim has received the green light during a recent Planning Committee meeting of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
Decided on Wednesday 28 June, the proposal from Rural Housing Association will see a mixture of homes built on lands north of Kilnadore Park in Cushendall.
Despite receiving 44 letters of objection and one petition of objection, mostly from two residential areas in the area of the proposed development, the provision of much-needed new housing has been widely welcomed in the North Antrim village.
Above: Location of new housing development.
The development received the backing of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) which previously identified a growing demand for social housing in the coastal location.
A report submitted by NIHE stated:
"We complete housing need assessments annually across all the common landlord areas/local housing areas within NIHE Districts. At November 2019, we identified a projected housing need, from 2019-2024, of 36 social housing units for Cushendall, Waterfoot and Cushendun.
"In March 2020, there were 62 applicants on the first preference waiting list for Cushendall, Cushendun and Waterfoot, 36 of whom were in housing stress.
"There were 5 allocations in the 12 months preceding March 2020.
Above: Site Plan for the new development.
"In March 2021, there were 71 applicants on the first preference waiting list for Cushendall, Cushendun and Waterfoot, 45 of whom were in housing stress.
"There were 3 allocations in the 12 months preceding March 2021.
"We fully support the need for this scheme to help address unmet social housing need in this area and we support the housing mix as proposed."
Above: Four (2) person (1) bedroom apartments.
The new development will provide a range of units at the site including:
• Apartments (12)
• Three person, two bedroom homes (11)
• Five person, three bedroom homes (7)
• Six person, four bedroom homes (1)
• Seven person, five bedroom complex needs homes (1)
• Six person, four bedroom complex needs homes (1)
• Three person, two bedroom complex needs homes (1)
CCGBC Deputy Mayor Councillor Margaret Anne McKillop
Deputy Mayor (CCGBC), local Glens SDLP Councillor, Margaret Anne McKillop has welcomed the 34 new social housing units in Cushendall. She said:
“These new social housing units will be a huge boost to an area that has been crying out for new housing for years. In Cushendall and right across the Glens we have great housing stress and need, with waiting lists getting longer all the time. These new homes will mean that a number of families can get off these waiting lists and build a life for themselves in a home of their own.
“I understand that some objections have been submitted to these plans, but I believe these homes will be welcomed by the vast majority of people in Cushendall, and that we can work together with local residents to address any concerns that may arise as a result of this development. When we face such a dire housing situation we can’t afford to pass up an opportunity like this.
“While I know that we still have some way to go to address the acute housing need in this area and the prevalence of second homes that forces many local people to leave the area where they grew up and their families, this is an important step and I will continue to work alongside my SDLP colleagues on behalf of the local community to find further solutions.”
Above: (5) person (3) bedroom homes