158 homes approved at £20m new development on former Adria site

An artist's impression of the proposed play park with housing in the background.

The £20 million Habinteg Housing Association development will comprise 158 homes and will include community facilities, small business units, public open space, and a children’s play park.

The proposal, which was granted permission at the Council’s virtual planning committee meeting in June, will bring the long-term vacant brownfield site at Beechmount Avenue back into use.

The majority of homes within the scheme will be committed to social housing and seek to address the growing and unmet need for social housing in Strabane Town. Designed by RPP Architects, this new provision of homes will offer a mix of accommodation including general needs, CAT1 elderly as well as wheel-chair accessible housing and complex needs accommodation.

The development will include community facilities and business units.

Darren McKinney, Chief Executive of Habinteg Housing Association commented: “We are delighted to see Derry City and Strabane District Council approve and support our proposals to create an excellent living environment for prospective residents and deliver much-needed social housing for Strabane. There has been a lack of new social housing in Strabane in the past ten years and we welcome the opportunity to help reduce housing stress with this high quality and vibrant residential-led development.”

The former Adria Factory, which specialised in manufacturing hosiery, was previously located on the site and following its closure, the lands have been vacant for more than 13 years.

Following the approval from the planning committee, and with consideration of the wider context of the COVID-19 outbreak, Habinteg Housing Association will examine the most appropriate timeframes for the delivery of the development in the coming weeks.

Sam McKee from the project’s planning consultancy, Turley commented: “We are thrilled to have supported Habinteg Housing Association in achieving planning permission for this exciting housing development in Strabane. We hope this major residential-led development will contribute to reducing the stress on housing waiting lists and provide future residents with comfortable and modern homes.”

An artist's impression of the new homes.

Peter McGirr from RPP Architects commented: "The welcome approval of this new residential development will significantly progress Strabane's capacity to meet demand for social housing. We have designed the new homes and surrounding amenities to create a high quality living environment for prospective residents and enhance the streetscape of this area of Strabane Town. We look forward to beginning the development of this exciting new development."