AQW 8501/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 09/10/2020
Answered On Date: 21/10/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities (i) what action is being taken to provide social housing in East Londonderry for applicants currently on the waiting list; (ii) what funding is required to provide outstanding social housing for those still on the waiting list; and (iii) whether she has created a business case to present to the Executive to bid for capital monies to build more required social housing.

Answer:

(i) What action is being taken to provide social housing in East Derry for applicants currently on the waiting list;

There have been 25 new social homes completed in the East Derry Parliamentary Constituency to-date in 2020/21. A further 130 social homes are under construction in the Constituency; and 115 social homes are currently programmed to start through the Social Housing Development Programme (SHDP) over the next three years.

(ii) What funding is required to provide outstanding social housing for those still on the waiting list;

A budget of £131m has been made available to the Housing Executive to deliver a minimum of 1,850 Starts on social housing accommodation in the 2020/21 year, including several new social housing proposals in the Derry Parliamentary Constituency.

The Housing Executive is currently formulating the draft Social Housing Development Programme (SHDP) for the next 3-year period (2021/22 – 2023/24), which includes further proposals for the East Derry Parliamentary Constituency.

Unfortunately, I can’t be definitive about the exact funding required to meet outstanding housing need in a given geographical area, but the example of the annual figures set out above - £131m to deliver a minimum of 1,850 starts this year – gives a broad indication of the scale of the challenge to address housing need.

iii) Whether she has created a business case to present to the Executive to bid for capital monies to build more required social housing.

In the most recent budget planning exercise, my Department has set out capital requirements for an increase in new social build - in line with the New Decade, New Approach, commitments to “enhance investment in new social and affordable home starts.