Housing Executive to examine use of Omagh site for social housing

THE Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) is to examine the potential for bringing 44 derelict homes on the site of the former St Lucia Barracks in Omagh back into use as social houses.

NIHE chief executive, Grainia Long, was speaking at a meeting between Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and the Housing Executive last week.

Presenting its annual report to the council, the NIHE said that it will spend £14.5 million in the council area during the 2023/2024 financial year. The largest part of this investment will be spent on planned maintenance and stock improvements, and on supporting people with housing.

Ms Long also said that the NIHE would be ‘happy’ to follow up on the St Lucia homes proposal, which was highlighted by Cllr Barry McElduff.

They have not been in use since 2006-2007, when the British Army vacated from the historic site.

Cllr McElduff said that the derelict properties were’ clearly visible’ from the nearby riverside walk, and that they should be brought back into use for social housing.

However, Housing Executive officials highlighted a number of issues associated with the 44 homes at St Lucia, including that they were situated on a floodplain and would require extensive renovation to be made ready for habitation.

They added that contact has been made with other Stormont departments in relation to the potential for the proposal.

The debate on St Lucia comes just weeks after it was announced that the former PSNI barracks on the Mountjoy Road in Omagh is to be developed for social housing.

More than 30 new homes of mixed types are to be built on the site.