UKHA 2009: Outstanding achievement in housing in Northern Ireland
Winner : Clanmil Housing Association - A shared future at Causeway Meadows
Causeway Meadows is pioneering on two fronts. Firstly, it is a mixed-tenure development by design - unusual in Northern Ireland. In November 2008 Clanmil Housing bought 22 properties on a 140-home private development. It rents the 16 three-bed and six four-bed homes to social tenants. Their homes are indistinguishable from their private sector neighbours’.
Secondly, it is integrated in terms of community background and race. As such it is one of the earliest examples of the Northern Irish government’s shared future vision - the ambition to achieve a peaceful and prosperous country founded on partnership, equality and mutual respect. ‘Brave’ is our judges’ description of this groundbreaking development.
Clanmil won praise from the judges for successfully tackling the challenges to achieving such an ambitious development, such as overcoming the negative opinions of some of the owner occupiers.
Building and maintaining solid community relationships has proved key to Causeway Meadow flourishing as a stable and harmonious community. Our judges warned against ‘underestimating the difficulties of achieving mixed communities in Northern Ireland’.
As the third shared housing scheme in Northern Ireland, Causeway Meadows is set to assist other housing providers in creating more shared living space and helping the country escape the religious segregation that resulted from, and contributed to, its troubled past.
Award sponsored by the Department for Social Development
Finalists
FOLD Housing Association - Grouped traveller housing schemes
The only shortlisted project to include equine accommodation, FOLD’s traveller scheme is a finalist in the Creating integrated and safe places
to live category.
Helm Housing - Ard Aveen Manor, Bessbrook
Ard Aveen Manor provides supported living accommodation for 12 people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour. Residents receive 24/7 care in a ‘homely’ environment, plus advice on how to live more independent lives. The manor enjoys great relations with the local community.
North & West Housing - The regeneration of Oakland Park
Oakland Park is a 6.5 acre green space in the heart of the Creggan housing estate in Derry. NWH overcame difficult topographical challenges to transform this formerly vandalised patch, building 39 social homes and community facilities.
The team deserves special praise for taking partnership working in Northern Ireland to a new level.
Northern Ireland Housing Executive - SNAP project
The NIHE’s photographic SNAP project was also a finalist in the Creating integrated and safe places to live category.
Northern Ireland Housing Executive - Intercommunity network
Another second appearance for an NIHE scheme.
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