The remaining three blocks of multi-storey apartments at Rathcoole, Newtownabbey. There were originally four blocks, built in 1965 by John Laing Construction, were 140 feet high, and contained 65 flats.  

The estate of Rathcoole itself, a sprawling development on the perimeter of north Belfast, (but part of Antrim and Newtownabbey District Council) was built by the then NI Housing Trust in the 1950’s to provide better quality housing for population overspill from Belfast itself. Many families saw it as an improvement on the accommodation they had left. 

In more recent times, the NI Housing Executive decided to demolish all the multi-storey accommodation in its housing stock, and one of the blocks was demolished in June 2023, with another due for demolition before the end of 2026. Local residents objected to the demolition plans and are rallying in an attempt to reverse the NIHE’s decision.

Photographed with the Nikon FM3a camera and Ilford HP5 film, ISO400. Developed in Fotospeed FD10.