Plans for 20 new homes at Moylinney House site

Radius Housing seek planning permission to build 20 homes on site of former nursing home in Newtownabbey

Press Release - 29th October 2019

Radius Housing has submitted a planning application to construct 20 new homes on the site of the former Moylinney House nursing home in Newtownabbey. The site, which was previously owned by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, was released by the Trust in September 2018 and now Radius have submitted plans to Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council to redevelop the site to create 20 new homes

Radius Housing is a leading housing association, managing more than 13,000 homes in 80 towns across Northern Ireland, including a range of sheltered and independent living schemes. They also provide supported housing with 24 hour care for frail and elderly people, people with dementia and those with learning difficulties; in addition it provides 14,000 day care placements.

The project, which incorporates 14 apartments for over 55 ‘active elderly' people as well as 6 two-bedroom family homes, is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland. It has been designed in line with the Housing Ageing Population Panel for Innovation (HAPPI) Principles which focus on designing high-quality housing catering for the needs of older person’s as their circumstances change.

Project architects Hall Black Douglas Architects have embedded the 10 key design criteria of the HAPPI Principles within the new build scheme, which include emphasis on high-quality open space provision, the addition of balconies for enhanced private amenity space, increased internal storage space and other shared ‘hub’ facilities.

Anita Conway Radius, Director of Development at Radius Housing, said “We are delighted to be taking forward this bespoke development scheme which will challenge the perception of active elderly accommodation and create a new way of providing housing for older people in Northern Ireland. Alongside our design team we have been working closely with the Department for Communities over the last 12 months to develop a high quality residential development that will set a new standard and benchmark for the development of future schemes with housing for older people.”

The planning application for the Moylinney scheme was lodged by Radius Housing in September 2019. It is anticipated that, if planning permission is granted, work on site will commence in spring 2020, with a view to properties completing for allocation to new residents by autumn 2021.

ENDS