BREAKING: Derry tenants kept out of 26 homes

Tenants are being prevented from moving into 26 completed, much-needed homes in a social housing development in the Woodlands / Ballynagard area of the city, it has emerged.

The hold-up is due to the fact Derry City and Strabane District Council has not completed the statutory open space development needed to accompany a specified number of homes.

Derry Now understands councillors are due to discuss the issue, under confidential business, at this afternoon’s Governance and Strategic Planning committee meeting. 

The situation in Woodlands / Ballynagard is that tenants have moved into 20 of the homes. A further 26 homes cannot be occupied due to the lack of open space development and the developer was prevented from building four more homes for other reasons. 

Speaking to Derry Now, Tommy McGlinchey of Bayfield Developments Limited,  the builder / developer concerned, said “the houses are ready”.

He added: “The houses are ready. Apex [Housing Association] has looked at the houses. Apex has notified the tenants that are going to get them.

“The homes have been allocated. Tenants know what number they are going into. However, they can’t go in because the [open space development] clause is there. 

“It is completely out of our hands. It is completely out of Apex’s hands. 

“The open space development clause relates to the statutory provision of a ‘community facility’ in the housing estate. It is not there and that was the responsibility of Derry City and Strabane District Council,” said Mr McGlinchey. 

He added that the company, which was also responsible for building Oakland Park in Creggan, wanted residents to be able to get into their homes.

“Our concern is first and foremost for the residents. Also, we do not want anything to happen to the houses while they are sitting vacant. That is why we have security on the houses.”

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Cllr Gary Donnelly (Independent) told Derry News, in the absence of the NI Housing Executive building houses, the people he is dealing with need houses and developers are building them.

Cllr Donnelly added: “The developer in this case proceeded with the intention of building 50 homes, with Council looking after the open space development. 

“Fast forward six years and most of the homes have been built but families can’t get their keys because Council has not moved on the open space development.

“As a result, there are families sitting now with their belongings all packed up and children out of school and they can’t get into their houses. 

“This is an absolute mess. Families with all sorts of needs are effectively homeless as a result of Council’s failure to complete the open space development. We need to get these people into their houses now and deal with all the other issues later,” said Cllr Donnelly. 

A spokesperson for Apex Housing Association told Derry Now: "Over the last month, 20 new homes have been handed over to families in our new development of Woodlands Avenue in Culmore. 

"A planning condition has resulted in a delay in handing over the remaining homes, however we are working closely with Derry City and Strabane District Council to overcome this issue and hand over the remaining homes in early December.”

In a statement to Derry Now, a spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council said: “Council is committed to working with all parties involved, including the developer and housing association with regard to this important development at Ballynagard.

“Council is committed to resolving any outstanding issues to ensure people are in their homes as soon as possible.”

Read the full story in Thursday’s Derry News.