Hunter welcomes new social housing for Dungiven

SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter has welcomed twelve new social housing properties for Dungiven.

There will be a mix of properties at the site on Station Road delivered by Arbour Housing Association.

Ms Hunter said that there was some way to go to address the housing need in the area.

“The twelve new properties announced by Arbour Housing Association will be welcomed in Dungiven – an area that is crying out for more social housing. These mixed units will no doubt be snapped up quickly by those on the current waiting list and it’s good to see properties that can cater to those with additional needs included in these plans.

“This project has my full support, but the stark reality is it will take much more than twelve properties to address the housing demand in this area. Right across East Derry people are being forced to move away from the area they grew up in due to the lack of social and affordable housing and this breaks up the fabric of communities.

“I have consistently highlighted with the Executive and Communities Minister the housing stress that exists in this area and right across the North. From a rise in Airbnbs to more and more homes being bought up as second properties – this is a real housing crisis. The SDLP Opposition are currently working on a number of proposals to address social housing need and to support people in obtaining their own homes and I look forward to bringing them forward in the coming months.”