Choice Housing has officially handed over six newly refurbished former VHE properties in West Belfast, which were acquired as part of a stock transfer in 2020.
The £1.5m investment in previously void properties in Riverdale, West Belfast included extensive internal and external upgrades to six properties, which will initially provide temporary homes for families in other occupied former VHE housing to facilitate upgrades to their properties.
The stock transfer of circa 300 previously managed VHE properties, included a significant programme of renovation and refurbishment to bring the properties in line with the Decent Homes Standard.
Phase 1 of this project involved upgrading void properties across all areas (Glengormley, Bangor, East and West Belfast) which would be used as decant housing to facilitate upgrades to the occupied properties in these areas, also part of the transfer.
Following completion of the wider refurbishment project the formerly void properties will then be offered to new individuals and families in need of quality affordable housing.
Choice Group Chief Executive, Michael McDonnell said,
“Our VHE refurbishment project has made significant progress and remains on target for completion by summer 2024. With a mix of houses and apartments, the programme was divided into ten phases with the initial focus being on completing the void properties to facilitate temporary housing for families whose homes needed extensive repair.
“With the demand for quality social housing increasing, it is vital that we deliver on this project in a timely manner with the formerly void properties eventually becoming available homes for people across all of the areas included in the programme.
“Working with Moore MacDonald Building Surveyors and Piperhill Construction, the upgrades to Riverdale commenced in January last year and we are pleased to have completed this phase in just over six months”.
The £1.5m investment in Riverdale forms part of the £10m which will be invested in properties across West Belfast on full completion of the project, with expected completion by Summer 2024.
Extensive upgrades, aimed at bringing the properties up to meet the Decent Homes Standard included new roofs, kitchen and bathroom installations, all new electrical and heating installations, new UPVC Double Glazed windows and composite Secure By Design external doors, upgrade of fiberglass insulation and external site works.
The other properties that transferred to Choice include Harmin Avenue, Harmin Drive and Farmley Park, (Glengormley), Worcester Avenue (Bangor), Cherryhill, Holywood Road and Clonaver (East Belfast).
Ends
For all media queries or interviews, please contact Kelly McVeigh – kelly@oscni.com / M +44 (0) 7580 850 224
