HOUSING association Choice is investing £14 million in affordable housing and private rental units at the new Kings Hall development.
The investment will be part of the wider £100m project at the south Belfast site, which is being developed by Benmore Octopus as a health and wellbeing village.
Choice’s addition will see more housing options being offered to the over 55s there, once the village is completed.
Choice, alongside its subsidiary Maple and May, plans to develop 81 new apartments on the development. This includes 45 new one- and two-bedroom apartments. A further 36 apartments will be leased via Maple and May as private rental units and will include a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments.
Choice Group chief executive Michael McDonnell said: “The investment in mixed tenure residential living is a long-term commitment for Choice and being part of this regeneration project allows us to further demonstrate the benefits of this as a long-term sustainable housing option.
“There has been significant investment in the Belfast City Council area with 15 developments completed in the last three years, an investment of over £66m which further demonstrates our commitment to addressing the growing need for quality affordable housing in the Belfast area.”
The development, when completed, will also include medical and life sciences accommodation, a multi-storey car park, a central plaza, a creche and retail, café/restaurant and leisure facilities.
H&J Martin Construction will lead in the development of the Choice-led part of the scheme, which is located just off Balmoral Avenue in Belfast. That element should be completed by May 2024.
Gareth Moore, director at H&J Martin said: “This project will realise the potential of this iconic site and incorporate much needed quality housing. We have a long history of working with and developing some of the most iconic sites across Northern Ireland and this project will prove to be a world class development when complete.”
Kevin McKay, Chairman of Benmore Octopus, said Choice’s arrival to the Wellbeing Park will “enrich the mix of occupiers on the site”.
Already operating there is Dataworks, the London-listed precision medicine company.
The social housing apartments will be constructed to Lifetime Homes standards with all apartments featuring Secured by Design ‘Gold’ accreditation. The development will also be served by private parking, communal amenity space and a part-time concierge service.
