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Former MOD homes handed over to NI housing association after long delay

A housing association in Northern Ireland has been handed the keys to 59 former Ministry of Defence (MoD) homes after two years of delays.

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Former MoD homes in Lisburn handed to Clanmil (picture: Google)
Former MoD homes in Lisburn handed to Clanmil (picture: Google)
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Former MOD homes handed over to NI housing association after long delay #ukhousing

Clanmil will refurbish the Lisburn homes to be used as social and affordable housing, with 30 available for rent by families on the housing waiting list and 29 for affordable sale.

The Department for Communities (DfC) was gifted the houses in January 2017 under the economic pact for Northern Ireland.

However, the lack of a functioning government at Stormont over that time meant it was not able to transfer them to Clanmil until MPs in Westminster passed the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018, which gained Royal Assent in November.


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Tracy Meharg, permanent secretary of the DfC, said: “Reducing housing stress and increasing the level of housing supply across Northern Ireland are key objectives for the Department for Communities.

“The department has been working for some time to ensure this transfer is made, so that these homes can be brought back into use for the benefit of the community.

“Clanmil will soon be able to get underway with the refurbishment works and these vacant properties will be brought back to life and provide a good-quality, comfortable home for many families.

“The use of former MOD homes like this is an excellent example of how former public sector assets can help tackle disadvantage and dereliction, and improve the quality of life for people of all ages who live in this area.”

Clare McCarty, chief executive of Clanmil, said: “We have been working closely for some time now with the Department for Communities to progress the transfer of these vacant properties.

“We’re delighted to finally be in a position to start the refurbishment work that will bring them back to life as much-needed, high-quality, affordable family homes.

“We’ve previously refurbished 36 houses in Mountview Drive so we know they make fantastic family homes and we’re really looking forward to seeing more families moving in and making these homes their own.”