APPROVAL GRANTED FOR ONE OF NORTHERN IRELAND’S LARGEST EVER RESIDENTIAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Leading private and social house builder, The Braidwater Group, has today received approval from Belfast City Council Planning Committee for the construction of more than 650 social and affordable homes on a significant 75 acre site in west Belfast.

Located beside the Glen Road, Glenmona is one of the largest applications ever received by Belfast City Council. It will represent a £95 million pound investment and see the creation of a new mixed-use urban village.

The application comprises 653 homes, of which 549 units will be social housing and 104 will be affordable housing. There will be a community centre with MUGA (multi-use games area) pitch, two care homes, a neighbourhood retail centre, a hotel, office and business space and children’s play areas.

Apex Housing Association will be responsible for the management of the completed social rented accommodation and also for the provision of the affordable homes in the new development.

Situated in the west of the city, Glenmona is a largely undeveloped parcel of land that enjoys a gentle incline rising from the Glen Road towards the Upper Springfield Road. The site has panoramic views over Belfast and beyond to open countryside including the Mourne Mountains.

Headquartered in Eglinton and with developments throughout Northern Ireland, The Braidwater Group has over 40 years’ experience in the building and development industry.

The Braidwater Group has commented:

“We are delighted that Belfast City Council has approved the plans for more than 650 social and affordable homes at the Glenmona site. This project will provide much needed residential accommodation and community space in the area.

“On behalf of The Braidwater Group and our project team, we would like to thank Belfast City Council and the statutory consultees for their efficiency in processing such a significant application during a challenging year and engaging with us in such a positive and efficient manner throughout the process. This application is particularly notable because it was entirely paperless throughout the process with the application and supporting documents submitted to the council digitally during the initial lockdown period.

“We are delighted that the council was able to adapt their working procedures and practices to process what was a significant planning application.”

The Braidwater Group continued: “This is a crucial time for the construction industry, which is facing pressures from the pandemic and Brexit uncertainty. Today’s approval will serve to provide hundreds of jobs for the local construction industry and the ‘Buy Social’ programme at Glenmona will ensure that job opportunities will be offered to apprentices, long term unemployed, education leavers and professional trainees. We have also focused on sustainability, biodiversity and environmental factors, with plans to retain existing and plant over 10,000 new native species trees, adding to the wooded character that will last into the future.

“We are now looking forward to starting on site as soon as possible.”