Homes in big new development will go to local people

Homes in big new development will go to local people

10 October 2012 - by BY DAVID TELFORD

THE majority of new homes under construction at one of Newcastle’s biggest ever social housing developments will be allocated to local people.

The news was confirmed at a meeting in the town last week involving the Apex Housing Association, Housing Executive, politicians and representatives from local community groups.

The meeting was held in the wake of local concern that the 130 homes which make up the new Burren Meadow development off the Castlewellan Road would be allocated to people from outside the district.

Housing officials said 95 per cent of the new homes which are nearing completion will be allocated to local people who are currently

on the waiting list for homes in the resort. The first 40 will be allocated before

the end of the year, with the new tenants expected to move in at the start of next February.

It was confirmed at last week’s meeting that homes have not yet been allocated because sewerage systems at the new development have not yet been connected to the main. This is expected to happen within the next six weeks.

Two other tranches of 40 and 50 homes will be handed over next March and April

Councillor Carmel O’Boyle, who chaired last weeks’ meeting, said there are currently 200 families on the priority waiting list for homes in the Newcastle area. She said while the new homes go some way towards addressing the need “it is by no means the complete solution.”

She continued: “Both Apex Housing and the Housing Executive anticipate that at least 95% of the new owners will be local families. While rumours abound about people ‘playing the system’ in order to jump the housing queue, everyone present at the meeting was encouraged to bring evidence of such practice to the attention of housing officials and local councillors.”

She said councillors are continuing to work with the Roads Service to ensure a new pedestrian crossing is provided at the Castlewellan Road to cope with the increase in the numbers of residents.

Councillor Willie Clarke said the development will help tackle Newcastle’s chronic housing list on which “many people have been languishing for years.”

He said homes will be allocated on the basis of need, explaining that while “being local” was not a component of housing allocation criteria, up to 95 per cent of people on the current waiting list are local.

Councillor Clarke said the integration of around 148 families into the Newcastle community when the new development is occupied was also discussed last week.