40 homes built by the McAvoy Group are being fitted out prior to being installed on Carrickfergus site

Northern Ireland’s first offsite affordable housing scheme is about to take delivery of 40 homes.

Built by the McAvoy Group, a family-owned contractor, the homes will be installed at the Joymount development near Carrickfergus as part of a £4.7m contract for the Clanmil Housing Association.

Designed by Knox Clayton Architects, the homes will comprise eight one and two-bedroom flats, aimed at couples and families, as well as 17 two-bedroom apartments for “active older people”.

The scheme will also feature 12 two-bedroom houses for families and three detached bungalows designed specifically for individual families with complex needs.

McAvoy has manufactured 111 steel-framed building modules which will be installed onsite with bathroom, kitchens, partitions and glazing already fitted.

Describing 24,000 Northern Ireland households in a “state of stress”, Clanmil group development director Carol McTaggart said partnering with McAvoy and opting for offsite construction meant reducing the building programme for the new homes by around 56 weeks.

“We want to be able to deliver new homes more quickly for people on the housing waiting list whilst still maintaining our high standards of design and build quality. We also need a solution that will deliver a range of energy-efficient homes with affordable running costs for our tenants,” McTaggart added.

As the development is in a conservation area the finished homes will feature slate roofing, white render and timber-framed windows.