Ministers’ visit marks start of work on £1.1m shared space project in East Belfast

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Junior Minister Aisling Reilly today visited the site of an ambitious £1.1million redevelopment project aimed at improving community relations and tackling homelessness in East Belfast.

Caption: Left to right: Rev Brian Anderson, Junior Minister Aisling Reilly, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, Tom Dinnen, Aidan Byrne and Andrew Irvine - East Belfast Mission CEO.

The transformation of a vacant property on the Newtownards Road will provide six new apartments, giving access to housing to those facing challenging circumstances and who are at risk of homelessness and social isolation.

The Hosford Community Homes: Inclusion Hub project will also provide a highly-visible focal point for community projects and activities, supporting community cohesion through creating a shared and welcoming space.

Speaking at the site visit to mark the official start of work on the project, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said: “It has been so inspiring to hear about the incredible work being carried out by East Belfast Mission and Hosford Community Homes to build community relations and help those at risk of homelessness. And I am delighted that the Urban Villages Initiative is playing a key part in that work through this Inclusion Hub project.

“This redevelopment will not only transform a dilapidated building and bring it back into use, but the creation of a multi-purpose community and good relations space as well as the six new apartments will have many other significant benefits for the local community.

“I have no doubt this will be a great asset for the whole community in this part of East Belfast, and I look forward to returning to see the completed project in 2025.”

Junior Minister Aisling Reilly said: “I am delighted that we are able to support this important development through the Urban Villages Initiative. The new Inclusion Hub will be a vibrant social space for the wider local community. It will enable people from different backgrounds and traditions to come together through good relations activities and will be a safe and welcoming space for newcomer families and minority ethnic communities.

“Homelessness is a significant problem in our society and these new apartments will be a valuable new resource in this area, enabling Hosford Community Homes to provide much-needed housing for people who have been homeless or who are in housing need. These are some of the most vulnerable people in our society and it is vital that they have access to a safe and caring environment where they can rebuild their lives.”

The Hosford Community Homes: Inclusion Hub will be an extension of the work already being carried out by East Belfast Mission at Hosford Hostel in the Skainos building, which for over 20 years has helped people facing homelessness.

The project is being delivered in partnership with Belfast City Council.

Notes to editors: 

1. Caption: Left to right: Rev Brian Anderson - East Belfast Mission Superintendent and Chair of the Board, Junior Minister Aisling Reilly, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, Tom Dinnen - Hosford Community Homes Manager East Belfast Mission, Aidan Byrne - Homelessness Manager East Belfast Mission and Andrew Irvine - East Belfast Mission CEO.
2. The Urban Villages Initiative is a headline action within the NI Executive’s Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC) Strategy and is overseen by The Executive Office.
3. The Urban Villages (UV) approach is an area based and community informed approach that promotes good relations through building community infrastructure, social capital and cross community networks.
4. East Belfast is one of five Urban Villages areas across Belfast and Derry/Londonderry. For more information log on to www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/articles/urban-villages-initiative
5. The Hosford Community Homes: Inclusion Hub project involves the redevelopment of a mainly vacant and dilapidated three storey property at 240 Newtownards Road into a multi-purpose community and good relations space with six accommodation units. 
6. The project, which represents a total investment of £1,101,203, has been a collaboration between the Urban Villages Initiaitve, the Department for Communities, East Belfast Mission and Ulster Garden Villages, and is being delivered in partnership with Belfast City Council.

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