The first residents have moved into the new landmark Loftlines Development in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter.
Representing an investment of £18.9 million, the 81 apartments at Dargan House, owned and managed by Clanmil Housing Association, form part of the Loftlines development, and are the first social homes to be built in this historic part of the City.
Located in the heart of Titanic Quarter, Loftlines is one of Northern Ireland’s most ambitious residential development projects. Once complete, it will provide a total of 778 new apartments across a mix of social, discounted market rent and build-to-rent creating a new mixed-tenure urban neighbourhood along the Maritime Mile.
Welcoming the Loftlines development’s first residents to their new homes in Dargan House, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said:
“I welcome the vital place social housing has within this new development, the key role played by Clanmil Housing Association, and the positive difference this scheme will have for residents as they begin life in their new homes.
“My Department’s investment in social housing is making a real difference across Northern Ireland, and the £11.6million in grant support for this scheme reflects my ongoing commitment to increasing the supply of much needed homes for those on the waiting list.
“The Housing Supply Strategy, which I published in 2024, is focused on creating better places and more inclusive communities where people and families can secure an affordable home and thrive. This is an example of that focus and ambition.
“I am also grateful to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for its support in making this shared Housing for All scheme possible, including the development of a Belfast city centre housing waiting list, and I wish all residents every happiness in their new homes.”
Charlene Quinn, Clanmil Customer said: “We are delighted with our new home in Dargan House. Me and my partner Declan had been in temporary accommodation for 7 months which hasn’t been easy with a baby and we were counting down the days to move into our new apartment. The apartment is gorgeous inside and out and it’s so special for our daughter Darcey to finally have her own room. Clanmil have been brilliant and so helpful and we couldn’t be any happier.”
Carol McTaggart, Chief Executive of Clanmil Housing Association, said: “Completing the very first homes at Loftlines is a significant moment for Clanmil and for Belfast. These new homes at Dargan House will make a meaningful difference to people who need a safe, secure place to call home, and they demonstrate what partnership and shared ambition can achieve. Loftlines is transforming a historic part of the city into a thriving mixed city centre community, and we are proud that the first doors to open belong to new social homes.”
James Eyre, Chief Executive of Titanic Quarter Limited who are responsible for managing the overall development of Titanic Quarter, also welcomed the neighbourhood’s newest residents: “We are delighted to see the first residents make Dargan House their new home and welcome them into the Titanic Quarter community. Titanic Quarter is already home to 1,000 residents and by the end of this year, we expect this to grow to nearly 3,000.”
Clanmil’s homes at Dargan House are the first element of the development to be finished and mark an important milestone in increasing housing supply at a time when over 49,000 households across Northern Ireland are on the social housing waiting list.
These new social homes are being promoted as a shared neighbourhood and allocated to people from a newly created Belfast City Centre waiting list.
The homes have been funded by Clanmil with support from the Department for Communities and the Housing Executive’s ‘Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme.
Loftlines is being delivered through a partnership between Clanmil Housing, Lacuna Developments, Legal & General, and Watkin Jones, who together are transforming the former industrial site into a vibrant, connected and sustainable community. The wider development will include extensive outdoor spaces, improved active-travel links, independent retail, and neighbourhood amenities designed to support modern city-centre living.