A new £6.8m housing development of 31 houses, apartments and a specially adapted bungalow, has been officially launched in Omagh by Arbour Housing.
The Mountjoy Road and Woodside Grange development is supported by the Department for Communities and the Housing Executive’s ‘Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme. £3.6m has been invested in the shared housing development and associated five-year Good Relations Plan to date, with a potential total investment of £3.8m following final approval of the associated five-year Good Relations Plan. In addition, a further £3m private finance has been invested by Arbour Housing.
The ‘Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme has its origins in the NI Executive Together: Building a United Community Strategy which reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society.
Kieran Matthews, Chief Executive of Arbour Housing, said: “Arbour Housing is dedicated to providing sustainable and inclusive housing solutions while serving the community with dignity, accessibility and long-term comfort in mind. Arbour Housing is making a real difference to families and individuals across Northern Ireland by giving them a place to call home featuring modern architecture and supporting a greener future with reduced heating costs and energy-efficient principles.
“With waiting lists across Northern Ireland at critical levels, this development represents vital new capacity in a strained housing market and it gives me great pleasure to see this new ‘Housing for All’ Land, Design and Build Scheme at Mountjoy Road and Woodside Grange filled with families and individuals in homes designed help them live, share and grow.
“This project is a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration, community focus, and a shared commitment to building better futures. Arbour Housing continues to look ahead to further opportunities to expand its footprint and deliver more homes where they are needed most.”
The Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Cllr Barry McElduff added: “Housing remains a critical issue, and I want to acknowledge Arbour Housing for their commitment to housing development and promoting community relations in Omagh and our wider Council area.
“As recently as November 2025, we as a Council (FODC) hosted a Housing Conference in Omagh. Here, the need for more high-quality and affordable homes was made clear. I want to reaffirm our shared commitment to addressing one of the defining challenges of our time: ensuring that every person and family in our district has a safe, secure, and affordable home. Housing is central to our health, prosperity and community. This is true everywhere, including Omagh and Enniskillen as well as our villages and other rural areas.”
Built in partnership with contractor GEDA, the £6.8 million development also received financial support from Danske Bank.
Claire McKeown, Corporate Banking Manager at Danske Bank, said: “Congratulations to Arbour Housing on delivering another high-quality housing development. With demand for affordable homes rising, Danske Bank is delighted to continue to provide funding to Arbour Housing to support sustainable development and thriving communities across Northern Ireland”.
Eddie Murnin, Associate Director, GEDA Construction, said: “It has been a privilege for GEDA Construction to deliver the Mountjoy Road development in Omagh on behalf of Arbour Housing. With the first phase complete, and the second phase to be delivered later this year, the overall scheme will provide much needed social housing that supports local families. We are proud to have played a part in shaping the future of the local area by providing safe, high quality homes for the community.”
Arbour Housing currently has 5 shared housing developments across Northern Ireland (Banbridge, Newry, Newcastle, Omagh and Magherafelt).
The Mountjoy Road, Omagh Good Relations Plan includes ‘Bridging’ events which are delivered to the wider community to encourage a range of good relations outcomes which include Health and Wellbeing, Education and Training (these can be changed to reflect the position of the Good Relations Plan, i.e. what type of projects are currently being developed).
Arbour Housing joined the already established Advisory Group in Omagh and continues to work in partnership with the local Advisory group stakeholders to develop the scheme’s Good Relations Plan. Should you wish to find out more about the Shared Housing Programme or the local Advisory Group in Omagh, please contact www.arbourhousing.org
Arbour Housing is a community-based housing association in Northern Ireland, playing a central role in providing quality social housing and supporting sustainable communities. www.arbourhousing.org