MoD pressed to hand over army site properties for social housing

12 October 2016

THE Ministry of Defence is being urged not to bulldoze 200 homes at the Ballykinlar army base.

Local politicians are encouraging army chiefs to sell the homes to help meet the need for affordable and public sector housing across the district where a number of people on the waiting list are in urgent need category.

A range of three and four bedroom homes, some of which have attached garages, have been lying empty since 2 Rifles moved from Ballykinlar to Thiepval Barracks in Lisburn two years ago.

Part of the army base continues to be used by the police and army and other members of the emergency services for training but the homes are in a separate part of the expansive complex.

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed it is looking at a number of options, which includes bulldozing homes at Abercorn Barracks formerly occupied by officers, soldiers and their families.

“With the reduction in military footprint we are not using the barracks as a base and Defence Infrastructure Organisation will be looking at a range of options,” said an MoD spokesman. “Demolition has not actually started and remains one of a number of options being examined.”

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie hopes the former army homes will not be demolished, but sold to address a housing shortage in the area. She said any plans to bulldoze the homes will be resisted by the Ballykinlar community.

“I am angry the MoD would even consider demolition of such quality housing when there could be an opportunity to place this housing on the open market or entering into an arrangement with the Department for Communities and Housing Associations so these houses could be made available for social housing,” said the MP. “There are over 21,000 people in urgent housing need in Northern Ireland and such housing provision would be ideal for this sector in providing benefit to our local community.”

Miss Ritchie said there were many people in the Ballykinlar and Lecale area who would like an opportunity to get on to the first rung of the housing ladder “with the homes at Abercorn Barracks providing an opportunity to do so.”

The MP said precedent already exists for the use of MoD housing for the local community with former army homes at Ballykelly, Portadown and Lisburn made available for sale.

“As a former Minister for Housing in Northern Ireland, I was directly involved in such housing provision. In fact, I met senior army personnel in Ballykinlar some years ago and they indicated they wanted to explore the option of the provision of social and affordable housing for this site within the wider community. Funding options with the European Investment Bank should also be explored for the provision of such housing,” continued Miss Ritchie.

Miss Ritchie described arguments about interference from the nearby training range on the homes at Abercorn Barracks as “largely spurious,” explaining army families lived at this location for years.

The MP added: “I have requested an urgent meeting with Armed Forces Minister Mike Penning to explore the option of making the Ballykinler homes available for sale and to ensure they are not demolished. All options for the local community must be explored.”

South Down MLA Chris Hazzard believes the entire Ballykinlar site, including the 200 homes, should be transferred to the Northern Ireland Executive to be used for the benefit of the community.

“The empty houses should be available to the public to help address the need for housing in the local area. Sinn Féin wants to see this entire site, including the sections which continue to be used by the British army and the police as a firing range, vacated by the British military,” he declared.

“The site should then be transferred to the Executive so that it can be used for the benefit of the entire community. It could be used in a positive way to help and promote the local area.”

Mournes TUV councillor Henry Reilly, who was stationed at Ballykinlar while serving with the Royal Irish Regiment, said selling off the houses may not be a straightforward option because of their proximity to the training complex and firing range which is still in use. He believes the best solution is for the army to use the place itself by putting a battalion back in the barracks.

He added: “The MoD is spending £46bn annually in its budget and Northern Ireland seems to be getting stripped of assets and everything moved down to the home counties in England and that’s unfair. The facilities in there are second to none. There is a gymnasium and a swimming pool and the houses are first class. I think there should be another resident battalion in Ballykinlar. If that is not possible, why not use it for rest and relaxation for troops?”

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