AN audio recording has emerged revealing property developers and politicians dismissing concerns over a lack of social housing in a planned "leisure village" in east Belfast.
In February, Belfast City Council's East Belfast Area Working Group received a presentation from developers regarding plans for the former Laburnum playing fields.
Those who presented and discussed the project with the group were Stephen Blayney, director of Coogan & Co Architects, Alan Mains, former RUC officer-turned-PR firm employee and the former first minister Peter Robinson.
Laburnum Leisure Village was outlined to the working group, prior to the early-stage plans being revealed in a public consultation, which took place a few weeks later.
The plans include a sports-themed hotel alongside 100 apartments and other leisure facilities.
During the meeting, which has just been made available by the council in an audio recording, Alliance group leader Michael Long asked if the plans would include social housing.
"At this stage no. There are no aspirations to put social housing on the site,” one of the developers replied.
Other councillors, including Sinn Féin's Mairead O’Donnell, voiced concerns about the lack of social housing, given the scale of the proposed leisure village and the current high housing waiting lists in the area.
Mr Blayney said social housing simply would not be economical for the project, claiming 90 per cent of the site would be open space and recreation.
Mr Robinson told the councillors there was already “very considerable” social housing around the boundary of the site, such as in Clarawood or Braniel.
“Is there a demand for social housing in this area? Some councillors tell me there’s not,” Mr Mains asked.
Ms O'Donnell said this contradicted what many councillors had said, while pointing to "so many people are on housing waiting lists across all of east Belfast".
Ulster Unionist group leader Jim Rodgers was more positive about housing aspect of the plans.
"I'm glad to hear you say about no social housing, because the people of Cameronian and Orby [neighbouring estates], where there are all private dwellings, would not be happy if there was social housing here," he said.
Last week, Alliance councillor Peter McReynolds said he was "extremely concerned" about the "attitude taken by the Ulster Unionist Party when it comes to social housing."
"Andy Allen (Ulster Unionist) MLA has previously called for an adequate level of high level of social housing, yet Alderman Rodger's remark flies in the face of such a request," he said.
