(I-r) Mr David Briggs, Director of Corporate Services, Lisburn Council; Alderman Edwin Poots; Mr Jimmy Miller, Lisburn North Community Association; Mr Stephen Graham, Area Manager, South East Area, NINE; Councillor Paul Givan, Chairman of Corporate Services Committee; Councillor Peter O'Hagan, Vice-Chairman of Corporate Services Committee and Councillor Jonathan Craig.

AN AMBITIOUS plan to use council land for a social housing project at Ballymacoss has taken another step forward following a special meeting of the Corporate Services.

Lisburn City Council agreed in 2006 to sell land at the Hill in Ballymacoss to the Housing Executive to be used for a Social Housing project.

Now the sale has got the final green light from the Corporate Services Committee at a special meeting. The Chairman of the Committee, Councillor Paul Givan, welcomed the news.

He said: "The Council has been working with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the Planning Service and Land Valuers over the last two years on this ambitious project which is intended to bring much needed social housing for Lisburn. "I am very pleased that people who may not have the means to afford some of the higher house prices in the City will have the opportunity to potentially be able to live in Lisburn through this social housing project at Ballymacoss.

"I am sure it will be very popular, as the demands for social housing, particularly in the Ballymacash area, is extremely high, and I am pleased that we are playing our part in meeting the needs of the community."

The Director of Corporate Services, Mr David Briggs, who has overseen project, reported the final arrangements on the land's disposal for Social Housing with planning permission approval, to the special committee meeting.

The committee was told a formal offer for the lands had been made by the Housing Executive on 4th July, with management of the acquisition to be handled by a Housing Association which is to be appointed within the current financial year.

Mr Givan said: "Lisburn is one of Northern Ireland's most popular places to live, as demonstrated by its house prices, and there is always a high demand for homes in the Lisburn area.

"I would like to thank the Council members and the Director of Corporate Services for their hard work on this project, and I welcome the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's co- operation and willingness to be involved in a project that will bring many advantages and choice for people who want to live in Lisburn,' he said.

Ulster Star
18/07/2008