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Carryduff housing development bedecked with loyalist flags shortlisted for prestigious architectural award

Killynure Green housing development, which is bedecked in loyalist flags, has been nominated for a prestigious architectural award.
Killynure Green housing development, which is bedecked in loyalist flags, has been nominated for a prestigious architectural award. Killynure Green housing development, which is bedecked in loyalist flags, has been nominated for a prestigious architectural award.

A RESIDENTIAL housing development bedecked with loyalist flags and emblems is in the running for a prestigious architectural design award.

Killynure Green in Carryduff, Co Down, on the outskirts of south Belfast, is one of more than 30 buildings and structures across Northern Ireland to have been selected for consideration in the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' (RICS) annual awards.

Last year The Irish News reported that UVF flags or other loyalist emblems are on "every lamppost" at the site, which has been praised for its innovative energy efficient homes.

Despite ongoing negotiations which appeared to have reduced the scale of the problem to one flag, dozens more loyalist emblems were erected just as residents prepared to move in to 40 new homes.

Residents who spoke to The Irish News said they were "disgusted" at the flags, while SDLP councillor Brian Hanvey said it was "regrettable in this day and age."

However the PSNI had said it would not be acting to remove the flags and logos as it had "not received any complaints from members of the public".

In a statement, Choice Housing said it was "continuing to engage with the police service, political representatives and local community and remains committed to resolving this issue."

The winners of each category in the RICS awards, due to be held on May 6, will be in contention to win the top prize of project of the year, to be announced at a gala event in London in October.