Homes planned for HE office site

Homes planned for HE office site

THE current Housing Executive office in Downpatrick is to be replaced by new social housing.

Staff at the John Street complex are preparing to move to new accommodation at the Downshire Hospital site which is being transformed to provide Northern Ireland’s first public sector campus.

The new Downe Hospital has already opened at the 52-acre site where the finishing touches are currently being put to Down Council’s new administrative headquarters.

The PSNI is building a new district command headquarters at the Downshire which has been suggested as a potential base for a new joint fire and ambulance base.

The Housing Executive has confirmed it plans to relocate from its John Street base towards the end of September when the premises and adjoining car park will become available for redevelopment.

A spokesman for the organisation said once all the details of the move to the Downshire are finalised, members of the public and local politicians will be informed.

“The Downpatrick office’s current location has been earmarked for social housing and will be transferred to a Housing Association in due course,” he said.

But the spokesman confirmed that no formal plans have been prepared and that a Housing Association has not yet been chosen to build new 12 social homes.

Downpatrick councillor Dermot Curran has welcomed news that much-needed social homes are to be built at the John Street site.

“There is a pressing need for social homes across the district, none more so than in Downpatrick. The Executive has bought into the public sector campus ideal at the Downshire site and that is very refreshing.

“It’s decision to relocate will free up a valuable portion of land close to the town centre which can be redeveloped for new social housing provision.”

Councillor Curran said the vision of transforming the Downshire site to provide a public sector campus is slowly becoming a reality, with the various pieces in the jigsaw now coming together.

He added: “The Downshire base has a crucial role to play in the future as politicians bid to attract more public sector jobs to the town and retain those we currently have.”