Doors to open in new £2m Ardglass Fold development

Doors to open in new £2m Ardglass Fold development

18 January 2017

A MULTI-MILLION pound social housing development will soon be launched in Ardglass.

The finishing touches are being put to the Fold Housing Association’s £2m Mill River Close development which will provide 18 properties with a mix of one bedroom apartments and two and three bedroom houses.

Fold area housing manager Grainne Teggart said Fold was delighted the new development was almost complete.

She said Fold had a long history of providing sheltered accommodation in the area with schemes in Downpatrick, Ballynahinch, and Newcastle as well as general family housing in Ardglass and Clough. 

“It has been part of our long term strategy to complement our provision of sheltered accommodation with general needs social housing for families and singles in an area of high housing stress,” she said.

“They are convenient to schools, shops and other local amenities.  Ardglass also avails of regular bus service through the village daily to neighbouring towns.

“These houses and apartments have been designed to provide high quality, safe and energy efficient homes which can be adapted to meet any future needs.”

She said the organisation aimed to provide more than housing, with a commitment to providing employment for unemployed people, placements for students and apprentice opportunities. 

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie welcomed news that the Fold Housing Association would help meet housing need in the area. 

“This project will provide secure and affordable new-build homes for those on the housing waiting list,” she said.

“This scheme should also benefit the wider community with a boost to the local economy through job creation in the building of these homes. 

“Too often, people on the housing list struggle to find suitable accommodation in their area of choice. This development will create modern homes for people in an area that has few re-lets available.

“I am delighted that people will be assured of modern accommodation in the centre of Ardglass.”

Anyone interested in registering an interest in moving into one of the new homes at Mill River Close is asked to contact the local Downpatrick office of The Northern Ireland Housing Executive Office on 03448 920900 or to contact Maeve McLoughlin, senior housing officer at Fold Housing Association on 028 9039 7126.