Business

Planning green light for £35m scheme on former Visteon site

Announcing the Visteon project by Radius are Anita Conway, director of development, Diana Fitzsimons, chair, and John McLean, chief executive. Photo: Darren Kidd/PressEye
Announcing the Visteon project by Radius are Anita Conway, director of development, Diana Fitzsimons, chair, and John McLean, chief executive. Photo: Darren Kidd/PressEye Announcing the Visteon project by Radius are Anita Conway, director of development, Diana Fitzsimons, chair, and John McLean, chief executive. Photo: Darren Kidd/PressEye

RADIUS Housing has been given the green light by Belfast City Council to undertake a multi-million pound regeneration scheme of the former Visteon motors works site in Dunmurry.

The £35 million development will see the construction of 244 private and social homes and access to community and workspace facilities, all set within extensive newly landscaped and open space on the former factory site.

The regeneration of the site will also lead directly to 300 construction jobs, including apprenticeships, and will make an overall contribution to the economy of some £86 million.

Radius - formed last April through the merger of Fold Housing Association and Helm Housing - purchased the former Visteon site in June 2013 with the aim of providing social and private housing, community facilities and employment opportunities.

Since then the social enterprise has undertaken considerable work to prepare the site for development, including the demolition of several derelict factory buildings and significant remediation work.

Contractors undertaking the construction phase of the project are expected to be on-site before the end of this month.

John McLean, chief executive of Radius Housing, said: “This scheme will see the transformation of a brownfield site to a vibrant and sustainable neighbourhood in west Belfast.

"As well as building over 240 homes in an area of acute housing shortage, the project will support 300 construction jobs.

"We also have exciting proposals for apprentice schemes as well as for long-term local employment opportunities. Radius is making a direct investment of £35 million which will generate an overall economic benefit of £86 million to the wider economy.

“As well as housing we plan to be able to progress the commercial element of the development simultaneously with the construction of the housing. We will continue to work closely with residents in the surrounding area to keep them fully appraised of the progress of the development,” he added.

Radius Housing employs more than 1,000 people and manages 12,000 properties in 80 towns and villages across the north.