Pictured: Minister Paul Givan with Fold Representatives along with local representatives at Rathgill.

Communities Minister, Paul Givan, has visited Bangor as construction gets underway at the second phase of a housing scheme at Rathgill Parade.

The development at Rathgill Parade will provide 179 new social homes when complete and is funded with £10.9million from the Department for Communities through the NI Housing Executive, with Fold Housing Association providing £9.3million through private finance.

Phase One at Rathgill Parade is due to be completed in mid 2017, with families starting to move in to their new homes in late 2016, and will provide 102 new homes with this latest phase providing a further 77 by Spring 2018. Twenty homes will be specifically designed to meet the requirement of designated complex need applicants.

Visiting the site in Bangor as Phase Two of the development got underway, Minister Givan said: “It is a great pleasure for me to once again visit North Down to see this exciting and significant new phase of social housing. This development is another example of how my Department, the NI Housing Executive and housing associations are working hard to meet housing demand in this popular area.”

Along with social housing, Fold will also provide a further 20 affordable homes at Rathgill Parade. The Minister continued: “This development at Rathgill Parade is the first bespoke mixed tenure project of its kind and I know that Fold is delighted to be at the forefront of this innovation as they aspire to meet the housing needs of everyone by assisting people to get on the property ladder.”

North Down DUP MLA Gordon Dunne has also welcomed progress from FOLD housing to provide new social homes within Rathgill in Bangor. Speaking after attending an event alongside the Minister, the MLA added:

"I was delighted that the Communities Minister Paul Givan visited Rathgill today and I certainly welcome the investment for much needed new social housing within the Rathgill area of Bangor. There is a great demand for housing locally within North Down and this development of new homes will bring a great boost to the local area as well as helping to meet the demand which exists. New housing brings new life and activity to an area and I believe this scheme is an exciting development for Bangor and will further compliment the recent investment in housing in this area over recent years.

I look forward to these plans progressing further and the much needed investment from the Department for Communities and I would commend the Minister for his interest in investing and supporting social housing schemes. I trust this will be a positive scheme for the North Down area and I look forward to things progressing in the very near future and people being housed in suitable accommodation to meet their needs. This scheme is also exciting as it contains mixed accommodation and also offers some affordable houses which will assist those trying to get on the property ladder."

The scheme also includes a play park and retail unit which will help serve the local community and will also feature green open spaces and have pedestrian access into the Balloo Wetlands nature reserve.

Anita Conway, Director of Development, Fold said: “Fold Housing Association is currently building 199 new homes split over two phases at Rathgill Parade. This represents an investment of over £20million in the local area. The development of this new neighbourhood is also underpinned by quality design and the determination to create a highly desirable, safe and inclusive place to live.”