Work on £1.6m elderly housing scheme to start

SDLP Deputy Leader and local MLA, Dolores Kelly, second from left, pictured at the site for a new social housing development for 'active elderly people' at the junction of Lake St. and Antrim Road. Work begins on the 26 units this week. Also included are from left, Pat McDaid, SDLP candidate in Lurgan, Maureen Litter, DLP candidate, Lagan River, and Councillor Declan McAlinden. INLM09-212.

The scheme by Trinity Housing will involve the construction of 26 active elderly apartments at Lake Street. The work is set to finish by February 2016.

Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly said the development should ease waiting lists. “This is investment in much-needed homes for an ever-growing housing waiting list in the Lurgan area,” she said.

“Recent figures for the waiting lists for North Lurgan reveal, as of September 2013, 500 are waiting of which 220 are in housing stress. It’s fantastically located close to the town centre and, from the number of people who have crossed the door of our constituency office, this is the area where people want to live.

“Not only will this investment help fulfil the needs of those severely in need of housing, it will also provide employment for the construction industry which has been decimated because of the recession. Projects like this will not see a return of the good times as witnessed during the boom years for the industry, but it will certainly help.

“Whilst the provision of 26 homes will undoubtedly help some of those on the housing waiting list, it is just a drop in the ocean to what is needed.”