Plan lodged to build 136-home neighbourhood on abandoned Ballymena army barracks

The proposal is for social and affordable housing on the site of St Patrick’s Barracks, Ballymena, just to the east of the town centre.

It had been in use by the military from the 1930s onwards, before finally being abandoned by the armed forces in 2008, a year after Operation Banner drew to a close.

Specifically, this first phase of the development plans calls for the construction of 136 homes, new roads, landscaping, and a children’s play park.

The applicant is Radius Housing, which provides affordable accommodation in 80 different places across the Province.

It describes itself as providing “sheltered housing for the over 55s and general needs housing for families and single people [plus] specialist care and support facilities for the frail elderly, people with dementia and learning disabilities”.

The authority which must make a decision on the development is Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, though no deadline for action has been set.

The application was received on September 18.

The applicants have said this in their submission: “An outline planning application was approved for the large site on March 21, 2019.

“The housing-led proposal will not only help alleviate housing need in the area with new homes, but will also feature a variety of facilities including a children’s play park as well as cycle ways.

“Community meeting and activity spaces are also proposed.”

The housing will be a mix of two-storey homes, wheelchair-accessible bungalows, and apartments.

Rodney Quigley, an independent councillor in the town, said that there is a “substantial” waiting list for social housing in the Ballymena area, and he will be “glad to see” any plans which would relieve that.

In addition to homes, the wider plan is to have a new leisure centre on the site, with an estimated build cost of £25 million.

Elected councillors have already agreed that the centre would include a 25 metre pool (82 foot), a toddler pool, a learner pool and a main hall, kids’ facilities, a café, a gym, a spin studio, multi-purpose studio, specialist studio and a spa.

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