Social housing is to be built on the site of a former North Belfast barracks that closed two years ago. The homes are to be built by Fold Housing Association on the site of Oldpark Barracks. The former police station closed in 2010. The housing association is to built ten homes on the site.
The news has been welcomed by local Sinn Féin councillor Danny Lavery who said they have been campaigning for social housing to be built on all former police stations that are no longer in use.
""Fold Housing Association is to build 10 new homes on the site of the former Oldpark Barracks and that's welcome news,” he said.
“Sinn Féin campaigned along with the local community since this barracks closed to have the site used for new high quality social housing.
“Along with ongoing developments in the Oldpark, this additional development will provide initial jobs in construction and go some way to regenerate this growing community.
“We are also campaigning for the former North Queen Street Barracks site to be given over for the use of the community, be that for homes, leisure or much needed facilities.”
The councillor said every small-scale social housing development is needed in North Belfast.
“Whilst we consistently battle for the inclusion of large projects such as Girdwood and the former Feldon Training site to tackle the housing crisis the impact of smaller developments like this one are very significant,” he said.
“Indeed currently there are in the region of 200 housing units at an advanced stage of the development process for this part of North Belfast."
