Housing to be built at Glengormley PSNI station

Glengormley PSNI barracks is to be levelled to provide social housing, the North Belfast News has learned.

The station, which has been empty since June 2012, was closed due to a lack of use and had been costing £160,000 a year to run. The Policing Board approved its closure in December of that year and it was offered to all statutory agencies as part of the Disposal of Surplus Land process.

Last summer Sinn Féin wrote to Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland to ask about the future of the site and whether it would be used for housing.

He has now replied, confirming that the Housing Executive were the only statutory body interested in securing the site and, subject to a survey to assess the suitability for housing, it would be transferred to the agency.

“The Housing Executive is currently establishing the development potential of the site to meet the identified housing need in the Glengormley area,” the letter states.

“There are some technical issues that need to be addressed and it may take some weeks to establish the exact development potential of the site.”

Welcoming the news, Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly said the housing would go towards driving down the waiting list in North Belfast.

"When the decision was made to close the Glengormley PSNI Barracks Sinn Fein identified this site as having significant potential for development for the good of the local community.

"We lobbied for the Department Of Social Development (DSD) to acquire the land for much needed homes as we have done at the Felden site and also Oldpark and North Queen Street PSNI Barracks,

"Work is under way at all these sites now developing homes to address the needs of North Belfast families.

"This PSNI Barracks wasn't serving the policing needs of the people of Glengormley and was a drain on resources that were far better focused into community policing.

"I'm looking forward to exploring the potential for homes here which will regenerate this location and provide jobs in construction in the short term and good quality homes long into the future,” he said.