UGV built and founded Merville Garden Village, Northern Ireland’s first ‘Garden Village’ with 450 houses, flats and shops and significantly, with Community Centre, Little Theatre and extensive gardens. The Village created a sense of community togetherness and involvement.
Other developments followed at Abbots Cross, Fernagh in Whiteabbey and at new Garden Villages in Muckamore and Whitehead. Since that time government’s approach to housing has changed dramatically in Northern Ireland with the establishment of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Registered Housing Association movement .
Although UGV has sold a significant proportion of the original properties, it continues to manage the estates at Merville, Abbots Cross and accommodation in Newtownabbey, Whitehead, Garvey Court, Lisburn, The Banks at Ballyholme and Victoria Square, Chichester Street and William Street, Belfast.
