“Our street is now peaceful for the first time in over five years and we implore you to take our physical and mental health into account before going ahead with this decision.”
A Lisburn councillor has warned a housing association to “control their tenants” following the approval of new apartments in the city.
Fears have been raised of anti-social behaviour in the city causing “physical and emotional damage” to neighbours amid recent criminality.
Lisburn and Castlereagh CIty Council’s planning committee this week unanimously approved 20 new flats for a social housing scheme close to Drumlough House care home on the Moira Road.
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An objection letter from local residents of Dunrod Court on the NI Planning Portal reads:”Our street is one of and we have already been through immense stress and anxiety due to a previous tenant.
“It took over five years to get one person causing physical and emotional damage to many of us removed.
“We fear that more people that have a history of anti-social behaviour are housed in these apartments from other areas where they are no longer wanted.
“Our street is now peaceful for the first time in over five years and we implore you to take our physical and mental health into account before going ahead with this decision.”
Representatives on behalf of the applicant, Bluehouse Development Ltd spoke in the chamber where they addressed noise pollution and access point concerns.
LCCC had previously lobbied the Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons to review the allocation system of housing associations when it came to “unacceptable behaviour” of residents.
At the planning committee, Lisburn North DUP councillor, Jonathan Craig said:”I would ask that the housing association control their tenants behaviour as some of the social housing areas of the city have had an inglorious history.
“The terms and conditions that they sign up to could decide whether there will be a good future for the site.”
Councillors have also raised concerns at social housing properties at Graham Gardens and Woodbrook Avenue in the city they say have been “plagued by anti-social behaviour and crime for a number of years” including violent incidents.
A Stormont bill will now seek new landlord powers to reject anti-social tenants from being rehoused will come to the Assembly in the new year.
Castlereagh East Alliance Alderman Martin Gregg added:”This is a much needed social housing development for Lisburn.
“I am happy that the plans include noise conditions, but that should be delivered full stop.”
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