New ‘green’ social homes making a difference in North Belfast's Rathcoole

A mother of two has been speaking about the positive impact her new home in Rathcoole will have on her family, praising the “amazing” standard of social housing being provided.

The keys to 57 new homes at Hopefield Avenue have been handed over to families in recent weeks as Apex Housing Association (Apex) continues its development of 111 properties, with six of the new homes classified as ‘Nearly Zero Energy Buildings’ (NZEB).

Alana McClean received the keys to her new 3-bedroom NZEB house recently. Along with her two sons, she has been waiting two years for a house with a third bedroom to accommodate her youngest son who has additional healthcare needs.

“We are over the moon with our new house. We have an extra bedroom and a downstairs wet room for Joshua, which really will make his life better and make such a difference to us as a family. I was taken aback when I realised how different this house was, with its underfloor heating, heat pump and solar panels. It’s amazing to see social housing being built to this standard.

The development of Hopefield Avenue has seen the former Newtownabbey High School grounds, vacant since 2015, being transformed into a thriving community of 76 houses and 35 apartments. Alongside six NZEB homes, the development will see eleven homes purpose built for families with complex needs; whilst part of the site has been set aside for people over 55, with private balconies and access to a communal garden. A total of four affordable homes will also be sold through a shared ownership plan.

Barry Kerr, Apex’s Director of Development, commented:

“We are thrilled to see so many families already enjoying these fantastic new homes in Rathcoole, where locally there has been great interest in this development. The allocation of the six NZEB homes marks an exciting step forward as we move towards building more ‘green’ social homes in the future. These energy-efficient homes will not only contribute to a lower carbon footprint but, more importantly, they will offer significant cost savings for families through reduced energy bills. Additionally, they will promote healthier living environments and help us to determine the best solutions for our tenants’ comfort and well-being in the future.”

Hopefield Avenue has been supported by £10.6 million Housing Association Grant funding from the Department for Communities and an £8.5 million private finance investment by Apex. The remainder of the 111 homes are expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

Social housing at Hopefield Avenue will continue to be allocated in phases using the Housing Selection Scheme Waiting List. Anyone wishing to be considered for these new homes, should contact their assessing landlord to ensure their details and circumstances are up to date and that they are on the correct waiting list.

For more information, please visit www.apex.org.uk or phone 028 7130 4800.

Photo Caption: Alana McClean pictured with Harry Dyer from Apex

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