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Contractor Appointed for Courts’ Project

14.9.20

Lagan Construction has been appointed as the contractor to deliver the long awaited Lower Oldpark Courts’ Environmental Improvement Scheme.


The Department for Communities (Building Successful Communities - BSC) informed Lower Oldpark Community Association (LOCA) on Friday 11th September 2020 that the company has been appointed to carry out major environmental work in seven Lower Oldpark housing courts.


The courts affected by the scheme are Foyle, Shannon (including 1-11 Shannon Street), Bann, Liffey, Bandon, Manor and Southport.


The scheme has been subject to long delays over a number of years but it is hoped that work will begin during November 2020.


The duration of the whole scheme and the start dates for work in each court have still to be finalised. LOCA will update residents as more information becomes available. 


The contractor can work in up to three courts at a time. It currently isn’t known how long work in each court will take. 


The scheme will involve the removal of all existing hard surfaces and planted areas in each of the courts and their replacement with new shared pedestrian / vehicle surfaces. Also, new pedestrian walkways will make sure that there is wheelchair access to all homes. There will also be car parking areas, occasional trees and new street lighting.


The work will involve a lot of disruption for pedestrians and vehicle users so LOCA has asked that residents are invited to information sessions for their individual courts before work begins. These sessions would give residents the chance to find out more about the scheme and to ask questions and raise any concerns they might have.


LOCA hopes that residents will feel that any disruption during the work will have been worth it when they see the finished product.


For more information, contact the LOCA Housing Project Worker Gary Hughes on 0289 351334 or 07713990976 or contact the the Department for Communities (Building Successful Communities - BSC) on 028 90515309. 

Bann Court. One of seven courts included in the Lower Oldpark environmental improvement scheme.

Bann Court

Social Housing Scheme Consultation PlAns

Site Layout Plan) (pdf)Download
Street Elevations (pdf)Download
House Type A1&A2 - 3p2b) (pdf)Download
House Type B - 5p3b (pdf)Download
House Type C - 5p3b (pdf)Download
House Type D - 3p2bw (pdf)Download
House Type E - 5p3bw (pdf)Download

New affordable Houses Brochure

Marketing brochure for new affordable houses at Cliftonpark Avenue.

Download PDF

LOCA Responds To Crumlin Road Plans

30.6.20

Lower Oldpark Community Association (LOCA) has formally responded to a planning application for a social housing scheme on the Crumlin Road by NB Housing, a housing association with offices on Flax Street and the Crumlin Road.


The application, which was received by Belfast City Council (BCC) Planning Department on 4.3.20, is for the development of 14 units of accommodation on the vacant site lying between Century Street and Albertville Drive - 197-203 Crumlin Road. The proposal includes 9  two-bedroom houses, 3 three-bedroom houses and 2 one-bedroom apartments.


LOCA became aware of the application from the Council's planning website on 25.5.20. Community consultation letters were sent out by BCC on 26.5.20. LOCA submitted a response to the planning application on 4.6.20.


In its submission to the Council, LOCA set out its concerns regarding the proposed housing scheme. These are summarised below:


  • Only 14 parking spaces are provided for the 14 properties in the scheme. This is only two thirds of the number of parking spaces the Government guidelines say should be provided.
  • Seven of the scheme properties front onto the Crumlin Road. None of these properties have parking provision either at the front or the back of them. This means that future occupants of these houses would have to park their cars away from from their homes at the seven car parking spaces provided in Century Street or the seven car parking spaces provided in Albertville Drive. The Crumlin Road residents won't be able to monitor their vehicles from their homes. This is in breach of Government guidelines.
  • The fact that the new Crumlin Road housing residents will have to park in Century Street or Albertville Drive will result in competition for spaces and disputes with residents of the new homes in these streets.
  • Some of the new Crumlin Road housing residents will undoubtedly have disabilities. Unable to park at their own homes, they will be forced to make their way to car parking spaces in Century Street and Albertville Drive, if any are available. This is inconsistent with Government guidelines as the developer is not taking account of the the specific needs of people with disabilities and others whose mobility is impaired.
  • The type of car parking provision in the scheme is called unassigned group hard standing. Government guidelines sees this as potentially being suitable where high rise densities are required, which isn't the case with this proposed development.
  • The development abuts the 'commercial node' that runs from century Street to Oldpark Road. This generates a demand for parking spaces and many shoppers/ visitors to the Crumlin Road park in the side streets off the Crumlin Road, including Albertville Drive and Century Street. This increases the demand for parking spaces in these streets including the limited spaces provided for tenants as part of the proposed development.
  • The main planning document that controls what development happens in Belfast is called the Belfast Metropolitan Plan (2015). This document says that  the portion of the site 197-203 Crumlin Road that fronts onto the Crumlin Road should be used for shopping/ commercial development. NB Housing's planning application does not include provision for any shopping/ commercial development. The Crumlin Road has suffered substantially from a loss of shopping/ commercial activity over many years. The traditional role of this part of the Crumlin Road as a focus of commercial and community life has been weakened and remains threatened. Opportunities to promote shopping/ commercial development should not be missed.




197-203 Site of proposed social housing development by NB Housing

LOCA Housing Advice Service And Coronavirus

15.5.20

Lower Oldpark Community Centre temporarily closed on 23rd March 2020 because of Coronavirus.


As a result, the Lower Oldpark Community Association (LOCA) Housing Advice Service provided by the Housing Project Worker is no longer available on a face-to-face basis.

However, the service continues to be available by:


· Mobile: 07713990976

· Email: loweroldparkhousing@gmail.com

· Facebook (private messaging): (@loweroldparkhousing 


Providing a housing advice service at this time is more difficult than usual. In many cases, only basic services are being provided by Government and public bodies. Many staff members are working from home and this can make contacting them difficult. The Housing Project Worker will do his best to deal with all advice requests made.


House Building Restarted

15.5.20

Building work on the new affordable housing at the junction of Oldpark Road and Cliftonpark Avenue restarted on 27th April after stopping in March due to Coronavirus. 


The contractor for the scheme, Brendan Loughran, went off site because building supply companies temporarily shut down due to Coronavirus. Unable to obtain more bricks, the brick layers couldn’t continue working.


The contractor returned to the site with a reduced workforce that will be following the Government’s social distancing rules. The Coronavirus will delay completion of the scheme but the contractor is hoping for completion by Christmas 2020, subject to Coronavirus restrictions.


Building work restarts on affordable house on Oldpark Road.

LOCA Working For New Housing

26.2.20

Lower Oldpark Community Association (LOCA) is working for the development of more affordable owner-occupation housing in the Lower Oldpark neighbourhood.


LOCA wants to see new affordable, family homes on the open space site bounded by Mountview Street and the Oldpark Road peace wall. It also wants to see the same type of housing on the open space site between 64 Cliftonpark Avenue and Alloa Street.


Before such developments can happen, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) has to go through a process to determine what it should do with the sites. This   

involves preparing an economic appraisal for each site.


The NIHE has been consulting with LOCA on the best way forward for both sites. LOCA will consult with the community about any future housing development.


LOCA hopes that the economic appraisals will enable the NIHE to release the sites on the open market with a requirement for the development of three-bedroom family homes. Before any development could happen, the selected developer would have to prepare final plans. These would be submitted to Belfast City Council for planning approval. After planning approval, it would then be some months before building work would start.

Site bounded by Mountview Street and Oldpark Road peace wall.

LOCA Rejects Crumlin Road Housing Mix

26.2.20

Lower Oldpark Community Association (LOCA) has said no to the housing mix of a proposed social housing development on the Crumlin Road.


NB Housing (formerly Flax and Filor housing associations) informed LOCA on 9th December 2019 that it wanted to build 14 properties on the vacant site, 197 – 203 Crumlin Road (between Century Street and Albertville Drive). These include 9 two-bedroom houses, 3 three-bedroom houses and 2 one-bedroom flats. 


LOCA representatives attended a consultation session organised by NB Housing on 7thJanuary 2020 at its Crumlin Road office. LOCA advised NB Housing that it wanted at least 10 three-bedroom houses to promote community regeneration. On 10th February 2020, LOCA received notice from NB Housing that it intended to submit a planning application for the scheme, based on the original housing mix. While keen to see housing development on the Crumlin Road, LOCA will oppose the application because the long-term regeneration of the area requires family homes.


LOCA is concerned that the Housing Executive (NIHE) failed to tell it about this proposed scheme during Building Successful Communities Forum meetings, something it was obliged to do.

197-203 Crumlin Road. Site of proposed social housing development.

Social Housing Development Design Review

26.2.20

Clanmil Housing is reviewing the design of its planned social housing scheme in Lower Oldpark.


The 12 new homes will be built on the open green space fronting onto Manor Street, Alloa Street and the former Annalee Court. 


The design review follows discussions about the type of houses to be built. Lower Oldpark Community Association (LOCA) wanted more three-bedroom family homes in the new development. A housing mix of 8 three-bedroom and 4 two-bedroom was agreed. The architect for the scheme is looking at how the additional three-bedroom houses can be included.


When this is done, there will be a community consultation meeting on the scheme plans.

Clanmil will then submit the agreed plans for approval to Belfast City Council Planning Department. It isn’t clear how long the planning process will take.


LOCA hopes, in the near future, to be able to provide residents with details of when the planning application will be submitted and how long building work will take.


The Housing Executive informed LOCA in March 2018 that it had agreed to the   

inclusion of this Lower Oldpark social housing scheme in its Social Housing Development  Programme. If the building of the 12 houses is completed by March 2022, it means the process will have taken four years.

Site of planned social housing regeneration development by Clanmil Housing.

Courts' Project Contractor Appointment Awaited

26.2.20

The much delayed Lower Oldpark Courts' Project environmental improvement scheme was expected to start in late April/ early May 2020. However, the start may be further held back due to more delays in the appointment of a contractor, according to the Department for Communities (DfC). 


The courts affected by the scheme are Foyle, Shannon, (plus 1-11 Shannon Street), Bann, Liffey, Bandon, Manor and Southport. 


The scheme will involve the removal of all existing hard surfaces and planted areas in each of the courts and their replacement with new shared pedestrian/ vehicle  surfaces. In addition, new pedestrian walkways will ensure that there is wheelchair access to all homes. There will also be dedicated car parking areas, occasional trees and new street lighting.


Starting dates for work in each court will be contained in a scheme schedule of work which won't be finalised until a contractor has been appointed.  The contract for the building work in all seven courts is expected to last 44 weeks from the contractor going on site. It is not currently known how long work in each court will take. The contractor will be permitted to work in up to three courts at a time. 


The scheme will involve disruption to the movement of pedestrians and vehicles as well as to parking in each court. Lower Oldpark Community Association has asked that residents are invited to information sessions for their individual court before work begins. These sessions will give residents the chance to find out more about the scheme and to ask questions and raise any concerns they might have.

Southport Court. To benefit from court upgrade as part of Lower Oldpark housing regeneration.

Supply Problems halt Cliftonpark Avenue New Housing Work

23.1.20

Work on five affordable houses has ground to a halt because of supply problems experienced by the building contractor.


Lower Oldpark residents were very pleasantly surprised when the contractor started work on 9th December 2019 and quickly reached ground floor level.


Following an inquiry by Lower Oldpark Community Association (LOCA), it was advised by the developer, Apex Housing, that  the builder is waiting for the delivery of pre-cast concrete floors that have been delayed due to the Christmas break. Apex expressed the hope the the pre-cast concrete floors will arrive over the next couple of weeks.


Another disappointing delay in Lower Oldpark.


Work On Affordable Homes Grinds To A Halt

Cliftonpark Avenue Site On Market

23.1.20

The green space site bounded by Cliftonpark Avenue, Crumlin Road and Landscape Terrace has been placed on the open market for sale by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE).


The site will be sold by the NIHE for mixed-use development, namely, retail and/ or residential.


In the Draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015, the site is designated for housing development. However, in December 2018, Belfast City Council Planning Department gave planning approval for the development of a new petrol station, a retail unit and for 5 three- bedroom family homes.


When putting sites on the open market for sale, the NIHE provides a development brief for those interested in buying and building on it. Following discussions with Lower Oldpark Community Association (LOCA), the NIHE has put a requirement in the development brief that any housing built must be three-bedroom, 5 person houses. 


The selected developer will have to complete their building work on the site within three years of signing a long lease that will allow them to build on the land. The long lease will be signed fairly soon after the contractor is selected.


The nature of any development on the site will only be known after proposals have been submitted and a developer selected.


If planning approval for a proposed development is already in place, then things should be able to move fairly quickly. If not, then a new planning application must be prepared, submitted to Belfast City Council Planning Department and approved. This would extend the development process significantly.


Progress with the development of this site was delayed by the NIHE which failed to take essential action over a number of years.

Cliftonpark Avenue/ Crumlin Road NIHE Site Up For sale

Resurfacing Work Begins In Cliftonpark Avenue

22.1.20

Work on resurfacing 600 metres of Cliftonpark Avenue carriageway started today. 


The £138,000 scheme is the responsibility of the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).


To allow the work to take place, Cliftonpark Avenue will be closed from Wednesday 22nd  January until Wednesday 5th February 2020 between 9.30 am and 4.00 pm.


The DfI advises that road users should expect some delays and allow additional time when planning any journey.


Diversionary routes have been signed posted.





Road Resurfacing Work Begins In Cliftonpark Avenue

Affordable Housing Scheme Starts

10.12.19

Building work on a Lower Oldpark affordable housing scheme started on 9th December 2019.


The development of five family homes at the Oldpark Road/ Cliftonpark Avenue junction went ahead after a decision by the developer, Apex Housing. Building work is expected to take ten months.


Lower Oldpark Community Association (LOCA) learnt that the scheme was to go ahead during the first meeting of the new Cliftonpark Avenue Regeneration Group on 14th November 2019.


When complete, the new three-bedroom homes will be made available for purchase under the Fairshare Shared Equity Scheme. This is targeted at first-time buyers and those returning to the owner-occupation market. The scheme allows homebuyers who cannot afford to  buy outright to buy a share of a new-build property directly from a housing association and to pay rent on the rest.


The new houses are expected to go on the open market through an estate agent during the spring of 2020. LOCA will let all Lower Oldpark households know as soon as the houses go on the market.


Apex Housing will be receiving Housing Development Grant (HDG) for the scheme from the Department for Communities (DfC). The purpose of HDG is to reduce the cost of building the houses, therefore making them more affordable.


DfC began looking at the potential for introducing a development grant to encourage private sector development in early to mid-2015. Approximately three years later, in May 2018, LOCA was informed that all necessary DfC and Department of Finance approvals for the Housing Development Grant policy had been obtained. The process of putting in place and approving a HDG policy implemented by the DfC and the DoF was a major cause of the delay to the start of work on the five houses on the site. Planning approval for the building of the new homes was obtained in May 2016.




Work begins on affordable housing regeneration scheme at Oldpark Road/ Cliftonpark Avenue junction.

Work begins on affordable housing scheme at Oldpark Road/ Cliftonpark Avenue junction site.

Courts' Project Now Expected to Start Late April 2020

25.11.19

The much delayed Lower Oldpark Courts' Project environmental improvement scheme is now expected to start on 20th April 2020, according to the Department for Communities (DfC). 


The courts affected by the scheme are Foyle, Shannon, (plus 1-11 Shannon Street), Bann, Liffey, Bandon, Manor and Southport. 


The scheme will involve the removal of all existing hard surfaces and planted areas in each of the courts and their replacement with new shared pedestrian/ vehicle surfaces. In addition, new pedestrian walkways will ensure that there is wheelchair access to all homes. There will also be dedicated car parking areas, occasional trees and new street lighting.


Starting dates for work in each court will be contained in a scheme schedule of work which won't be finalised until a contractor has been appointed, hopefully in February 2020.  The contract for the building work in all seven courts is expected to last until   

6th March 2021. It is not currently known how long work in each court will take. The contractor will be permitted to work in up to three courts at a time. 


The work will involve disruption to the movement of pedestrians and vehicles as well as to parking in each court. LOCA has requested that residents are invited to information sessions for their individual courts before work begins. These sessions would be expected to take place during the time between the contractor is appointed and they start work. The sessions will give residents the chance to get fully updated and to ask questions and raise any concerns they might have.


The DfC has advised Lower Oldpatk Community Association that the Courts’ Project going ahead is dependent on scheme funding being confirmed.


Bann Court. One of seven courts to be upgraded as part of Lower Oldpark housing regeneration.

Bann Court. One of seven courts expected to benefit from planned improvement work

Affordable Housing Scheme To Start

19.11.19

       

Building work on a Lower Oldpark affordable housing scheme is expected to start in January 2020.


The development of five family homes at the Oldpark Road/ Cliftonpark Avenue junction is to go ahead after a decision by the developer, Apex Housing. Building work is expected to take ten months.


Lower Oldpark Community Association (LOCA) was given the news during the first meeting of the Cliftonpark Avenue Regeneration Group on 14th November 2019.


When complete, the new three-bedroom homes will be made available for purchase under the Fairshare Shared Equity Scheme. This is targeted at first-time buyers and those returning to the owner-occupation market. The scheme allows homebuyers who cannot afford to buy outright to buy a share of a new-build property directly from a housing association and to pay rent on the rest.


The new houses are expected to go on the open market through an estate agent during the spring of 2020. LOCA will let all Lower Oldpark households know as soon as the houses go on the market.


Apex Housing will be receiving Housing Development Grant (HDG) for the scheme from the Department for Communities (DfC). The purpose of HDG is to reduce the cost of building the houses, therefore making them more affordable. DfC began looking at the potential for introducing a development grant to encourage private sector development in early to mid-2015. Approximately three years later, in May 2018, LOCA was informed that all necessary DfC and Department of Finance approvals for the Housing Development Grant policy had been obtained. The process of putting in place and approving a HDG policy implemented by the DfC and the DoF was a major cause of the delay to the start of work on the five houses on the site. Planning approval for the building of the new homes was obtained in May 2016.                       

Oldpark Road/ Cliftonpark Avenue junction site. Location for new affordable housing scheme

Oldpark Road/ Cliftonpark Avenue junction site. Location for new affordable housing scheme

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Link to News 18.2.21 - 24.3.22 

Link to  News 23.7.18 - 18.2.19

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