AQW 50207/11-16

Mr Andy Allen MBE
Ulster Unionist Party
East Belfast

Tabled Date: 02/11/2015
Answered On Date: 05/11/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Social Development to detail the factors used when selecting an area for shared housing under Together: Building a United Community.

Answer:

Prospective Together: Building a United Community shared neighbourhood schemes are assessed against overarching criteria, which have been approved by the Housing Executive’s Chief Executive’s Business Committee. The stage 1 criteria are:

a. Religious mix of the local community. This examines both the existing wider

communities and the make-up of the proposed, new shared neighbourhood;

b. The waiting list should demonstrate that the scheme delivered would not have

one community in the dominance of more than 70%;

c. A history of good relations in the area. This criterion considers communities

which have participated in Housing Executive Good Relations programmes;

d. Potential size of development (not less than 25 units). Exceptions in rural

areas will be considered; and

e. Local political/community issues/views indicate support for sharing.

Selection is made using a Selection Criteria Form with data provided by the

Housing Executive’s Community Cohesion Unit, and signed off by the Department for Social Development / Housing Executive Internal Oversight Group.