Phil Flanagan MLA at the Grosvenor Barracks site
SOCIAL HOUSING plans at the Grosvenor Barracks site in Enniskillen have been given a ‘vote of confidence’ – despite its transfer from the Department of Social Development to the new Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.
The 17.2 acre site with plans for 200 houses is to be transferred from April 1 of next year.
And, this week Sinn Fein MLA Phil Flanagan received what appeared to be a vote of confidence from the Environment Minister Mark H Durkan, that the site would eventually reach the social housing programme.
This vote of confidence came despite the MLA’s fears that the site could be ‘sold off to the highest bidder’.
Mr Flanagan said: “Some time ago, I established that this site, which has been earmarked for social houses for a number of years, and which are badly needed, was to transfer out of the Department of Social Development, which has responsibility for social housing and transferring to the new council.
“I am fearful that the out working of this transfer will be that the site will be sold off to the highest bidder and not used for this purpose.”
Mr Flanagan said that the most recent figures indicate that there are over 800 individuals and families on the waiting list for a home in the county – with almost 300 of these in ‘housing stress’.
Mr Flanagan added that if the site was developed for social housing it could ‘have a major impact on reducing these figures’, and could also help in ‘stimulating the local construction sector’
“It would therefore be wholly unacceptable if this site were to be sold off to the highest bidder instead of being used to house those in greatest need and to create much needed employment for local people.”
In his response to Mr Flanagan, Mr Durkan said: “As I have outlined, the council will ultimately be able to say that that land is zoned for social housing. Unfortunately, it is outside my gift or ability to say that it will ultimately be developed for social housing, though.
“As the Member rightly identifies, that will require co-operation and collaboration between the council and social housing providers through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and ultimately the housing builders, which would be housing associations.
“If the demand exists in that area for social housing – I imagine that it does if it is, in any way, similar to other areas across the North – I cannot think why there would be great difficulty in getting it on to the social housing programme eventually,” he added
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