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.