Clanmil Housing Association's Caffrey Hill family housing scheme has taken first place in the residential category of this year's RICS awards.

The awards showcase Northern Ireland's most inspirational initiatives and developments in land, property, construction and the environment.

The £26 million development, which was completed in January 2013, is home to 166 families and a true example of successful partnership working.

Built for Clanmil by a joint venture between T&A Kernoghan and Collen Construction and part funded by the Department for Social Development, the scheme has brought the former Bass Brewery site back into use for the local community, providing much needed homes and bringing vibrancy and life back into this area of West Belfast.

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The success of the scheme is the result of close community and political engagement and the provision of a children’s play park and retail space, to encourage local business, reflects Clanmil's desire to invest in more than just houses.

Clare McCarty, Chief Executive of the Clanmil Housing Group said: "We are very proud of what has been achieved at Caffrey Hill and would like to thank everyone involved in making this scheme such a success.

"It is wonderful to see this historic site back in use for the community with families now well settled in their new homes.

"At Clanmil we are committed to providing housing that really meets our tenants' needs, not just in terms of quality homes and affordable rents, but also in relation to the cost of living in those homes. Not only does Caffrey Hill provide our tenants with a really good place to live - a place they can call their own, where they feel settled and secure and where they are happy to raise their families - but the homes have been designed and built to a very high environmental standard, making them over 40% more energy efficient that standard houses and considerably cheaper for our tenants to run."

(CD/MH)