Campbell welcomes plans to refurbish Ballysally vacant housing stock

The Minister responsible for Housing, Nelson McCausland MLA, in a reply to an NI Assembly Question from Gregory Campbell, said that there are currently a total of 19 vacant properties in the Ballysally estate which are owned by SHAC Housing Association. SHAC Housing is managed by Oaklee Housing Association.

Mr Campbell said: “The Minister has instructed his officials to meet with Oaklee Housing Association to tell them that all these vacant properties should be refurbished as a matter of priority and that 10 houses will be refurbished in the first half of the 2013/14 financial year.

“This is good news for Ballysally to remove the dereliction and make more housing available for those in housing need which will help regenerate the area, along with other positive programmes that are undertaken within the community.”

Mr Campbell asked the Minister for Social Development what assessment he has made of the number of homes remaining derelict at Ballysally, Coleraine; and the ability of a Housing Association to bring these properties into use during the 2013/2014 financial year.

Minister Mr McCausland replied: “There are currently a total of 19 vacant properties in the Ballysally estate in Coleraine which are owned by SHAC Housing Association. Oaklee Housing Association, in conjunction with SHAC, currently has plans to refurbish 10 houses (four of which are vacant) in the first half of 2013/14.

“I am however committed to ensuring that all of these vacant properties are refurbished as a matter of priority. I have therefore instructed my officials to meet with Oaklee Housing Association to instruct them that all these vacant properties should be refurbished as a matter of priority.”

Following the Minister’s reply Mr Campbell has written to Oaklee Housing Association regarding this matter.