Radius planning new homes for Hopewell

Radius Housing submits plans to construct 18 news homes in Shankill area

Radius Housing is planning to construct 18 new homes at Hopewell Crescent, in the lower Shankill. The housing association has submitted plans to transform the 1.4 hectare site at Hopewell Crescent with 14 new houses and 4 apartments. The project marks an investment of almost £3 million, 50% of which is funded by the Department for Communities and 50% through private finance raised by Radius.

The development, which will see new homes built on derelict land which is owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, is part of the Department for Communities’ Building Successful Communities Programme. This programme seeks to use housing-led regeneration as a catalyst for change in areas of Belfast characterised by significant social and economic deprivation.

In the Shankill area, the Building Successful Communities Programme consulted with key stakeholders, including the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Belfast City Council and members of the local community, to develop a local regeneration plan. This plan identified Hopewell as a key area, with the housing provision on the open space in Hopewell Crescent being one of four catalyst projects. The subsequent proposal by Radius to develop part of the site, with 18 units in Phase 1, will see the transformation of redundant open space to meet local social housing need.

This is the latest development project for Radius Housing, a leading housing association which manages more than 13,000 homes in Northern Ireland and constructs more than 400 new social and affordable homes every year. Radius recently announced a £105 million investment, which will support the development of new homes across Northern Ireland.

Speaking about the project, Anita Conway, Director of Development at Radius Housing, said “Radius Housing is delighted to be taking forward the new build development at Hopewell Crescent. It will not only provide high-quality new homes, which will address local housing need, but also assist with the wider physical and social regeneration of the area and the surrounding community.”

Following the completion of the planning process, Radius hopes to commence work on site in Spring 2020.