As part of South Ulster Housing Association’s commitment to improving the knowledge and skill of its staff, the Association achieved the Bronze Award in Investors in People. Although the Association achieved this award in April 2009, the award ceremony was only held in Hillsborough Castle on the 25th November 2009.

Receiving the award from the Employment Minister, Sir Reg Empey, is the Association Chairman, Mr Arnold Hatch and Assistant Director, Mr Mark Turner. Mr Mark Turner, our Assistant Director commented “Investors in People has long been acknowledged as the most successful framework for business improvement through people. It helps organisations of every size, sector and location to compete and succeed through improved people performance.

The Association was once again pleased to welcome the Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie, to visit one of our new build projects.

On Friday 3rd July 2009, the Minister visited Gowanvale Phase 3, Banbridge, to launch the new £2.2 million 'Shared Future' Housing Scheme. The scheme was completed in November 2009.

Visiting the scheme, Margaret Ritchie said "I congratulate the residents in Gowanvale on publicly declaring themselves a shared community, open to all, regardless of their religion, political persuasion or ethnic origin".

The 15 new homes are all built to Lifetime Homes Standard and 'Secure by Design'. As part of the Association's commitment to reducing the carbon footprint, all properties will have natural gas central heating and solar panels.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

South Ulster is a developing Association and has recently completed 4 new developments.


Newry Phase 3

Phase 3 is a development of 29 units which includes a mix of family housing, bungalows and apartments. This development is fairly unique as it includes the rehabilitation of a listed building in Canal Street.

Handovers of this scheme were completed in June 2009, with one of our Joint Managed Partners taking over the management of the listed building.

This third phase compliments the Association's previous two phases of 15 units in Newry at Canal Street and Barack Close. The Association is currently involved in the early stage of another site for the fourth phase.
Further details will be provided shortly


Ballygowan Phase 3

The contractor, Kelly Brothers, arrived on site early in November 2008. Due to the commitment of Kelly Brothers, handovers were completed in November 2009, ahead of schedule.

As part of the Minister Of Social Development’s (Margaret Ritchie) new housing agenda, this scheme has been designated a ‘Shared Future Scheme’. This will ensure that not only will the Association build high quality, well designed energy efficient homes, but will be creating sustainable communications that welcome diversity in whichever form that exists. Over the next few months the Association will be working with the community to assist in shaping the future.

Levin Road Lurgan

This development of 4 semi-detached 4 person, 3 bedroom houses were completed on the 9th December 2009. Key features of these dwellings include solar panels, gas central heating and timber frame constructions.


Meadownbrook, Craigavon

This development of 6 bungalows was completed on the 11th December 2009, providing much needed ground floor accommodation in the area. As with the above scheme, these properties are built with timber frame constructions, gas central heating and solar panels.

Our Association would like to thank our contractor, Kelly Brothers, for delivering both schemes ahead of schedule and in time for Christmas

The Association is pleased to announce the completion of it’s new office in Carleton Street. The Association, due to it’s expansion, has now extended it’s office space in Carleton Street by developing new offices and rehabilitating it’s existing offices to create a new look.

The completion allows the Association to comply with disability access in providing lift access to all floors and interview rooms that are accessible to all. Another new feature in the offices is the provision of a family interview room. The Association, in meeting its client’s needs, had identified the high proportion of families attending the office.

Not only has the Association provided new offices, but it has also invested substantially in providing new IT hardware, software and telephony. This will allow staff to provide an even better and efficient service to all service users.

Tenants who have requested repairs in the last year will have noticed a questionnaire being sent to them. This is now available due to the new software and will allow the Association to monitor it’s maintenance division.

It goes without saying that all are welcome to call in and experience the benefits of the new offices.