Ballycastle apartments chosen as ‘best housing development’ in Ireland

The seaside town of Ballycastle, nestled on the north Antrim coast, is well known as a great place to call home. The town was named ‘Best Place to Live’ in Northern Ireland by the Sunday Times in 2022; and is now the location of the best housing development in Ireland, created by Apex Housing Association (Apex).

Dunineany View in Ballycastle was announced as the best housing development in Ireland by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) in February, with Apex accepting the award at a ceremony held in Titanic Belfast, outshining eleven other housing projects from across the island of Ireland.

Completed in 2024, Dunineany View, features 28 apartments for people aged over 55 and is a shared community, supported by the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s Housing for All Shared Housing Programme.

Prior to construction beginning, the site was a neglected space which had previously been the location of Rathmoyle Residential Home. Apex transformed the derelict site, providing a building that continues to benefit a local population of older people.

Barry Kerr, Apex’s Director of Development, says: “We are thrilled that the innovative design and quality construction of Dunineany View has been recognised on a national stage. With feedback and support from the Ballycastle community, we were able to transform a neglected site, creating a thoughtfully designed and modern apartment block that allows neighbours to become friends, encourages an active lifestyle and makes the most of the stunning seafront location.”

“The design was inspired by Ballycastle’s traditional building style and followed conservation guidelines to preserve its historic character. Swift boxes were installed to allow local birds to nest safely and a communal garden with raised beds was created to enable tenants to grow their own vegetables.”

“I would like to congratulate our development team, and partners KnoxClayton Architects and Lowry Construction, for bringing the vision to life and contributing to this project’s success. Our wider teams at Apex have worked since February 2024 to make Dunineany View a real home for local people – allocating apartments, responding to property queries and providing opportunities for neighbours to connect. It is just the start, and we are excited to see this community thrive in the years to come.”

The development of Dunineany View was supported by the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s Housing for All Shared Housing Programme. The Programme has its origins in the Northern Ireland Executive’s 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. Up to £3.8 million will potentially be invested in Dunineany View to deliver the homes and contribute to the area’s good relations plan.

Apex works in partnership with local advisory group stakeholders and residents to deliver a good relations plan for Ballycastle. This plan includes ‘bridging’ events which are delivered to the wider community to encourage a range of good relations outcomes which include health and wellbeing, arts and culture, education and training.

Through the Housing for All programme, Apex has organised dozens of good relations initiatives in Ballycastle. This has included historical tours offering different perspectives of Ballycastle, a ‘Peace, Justice and Care of the Earth’ Conference at Corrymeela and a Health Fair attended by over 120 local people. Apex also commissioned a local artist to collaborate with Dunineany View tenants to create two large pieces of art for the main entrance hall.

Former deep-sea fisherman, Philip Morton, found himself homeless seven months before moving to Dunineany View: “I feel so lucky to have been given this new forever home. Having been born and raised in the seafront area of Ballycastle, I am delighted to be back where I started. My apartment is on the ground floor at the front of the building, so I have the added benefits of a great view and being able to come and go through my own door. I am so happy with it.”

The CIH All-Ireland Housing Awards took place in Titanic Belfast in February 2025. The awards celebrate and recognise the best in housing in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and showcase the amazing work and inspirational people seen in communities every day.

To read more of Apex’s development news, visit www.apex.org.uk/developments.

Apex Housing Association
10 Butcher Street
Derry~Londonderry
BT48 6HL

T: 028 7130 4800
E: development@apex.org.uk
W: www.apex.org.uk