NEHA Launches Social Housing Development
16 May 2018)
The North & East Housing Association (North & East) has today unveiled nine homes in a new social housing development at Darcystown Close, Balrothery, Balbriggan, County Dublin.
Eight of the homes are occupied by families with children and one is a single household in a specially adapted home.
The site for the new homes was provided by Fingal County Council while the homes were funded under the Government’s Capital Assistance Scheme. On site, construction was completed on budget within 13 months.
The project was originated and overseen by North & East and brings to 54 the number of new homes it has provided in partnership with Fingal County Council over the last 18 months. The Association is marking its 25th anniversary this year.
Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Damien English, TD, Cllr Ken Farrell, Chair of the Fingal Housing Strategic Policy Committee and John Ryan the Chairman of North & East visited one of the homes before the Minister unveiled a plaque to mark the official opening of the development.
Mr. Ryan said the North & East was committed to meeting people’s housing needs and building better communities in partnership with local authorities.
“North & East has developed from a small-scale mainly voluntary organization into a well-established housing provider which delivers high-quality homes and comprehensive housing services to tenants. We are very proud of the fact that now 25 years later we have almost 500 homes in management and are on course to achieve our strategic goal of 700 homes by 2020”
“Bringing housing developments like this to fruition involves true teamwork and I would like to thank everyone involved from the Minister and his department to Fingal County Council to VPM Developments and the design team led by James Maloney architects, as well of course as our own property services team.
“As you can see we have erected a memorial bench to two former stalwarts of our Association, Tony Gilmore, and Jim Byrne. I am delighted members of their families could join us here today and I think both men would be very proud of the significant legacy they have left, a legacy we will continue to draw on over the next 25 years” Mr. Ryan said.
One of the new residents, Shakil Khan said; “….last year I lost my job and house. Lima and I were suffering in a B&B for three months. Then one day I had an interview ……with the North and East Housing Association and that was like more than a dream come true.”
Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Damien English, TD said; “This Government recognises the serious challenge we face in terms of housing and a critical focus and priority has been firmly placed on responding to this challenge through the development and implementation of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. What is critical at this stage is to ensure that all of the structures already in place are aligned, co-ordinated and co-operating towards a shared vision. This includes the Department, the Housing Agency and the Housing Finance agency working with local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies across the country. Local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies working in partnership is a model that the Department encourages, and this scheme here today highlights to me the real progress on the ground being achieved to address the challenges we face in the housing sector.”
For further information
Contact Kieran Garry
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