AQW 11606/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 09/05/2024
Answered On Date: 08/07/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail (i) the number of social houses with four or more bedrooms available in the Causeway Coast and Glens area; (ii) his assessment of whether this is adequate to meet the current need; and (iii) his plans to increase this number.

Answer:

This issue is an operational matter for the Housing Executive. I have sought the requested information from the Chief Executive, who has advised me as follows.

“There are currently 317 Housing Executive properties with four or more bedrooms in the Causeway Coast and Glens area.

As of 31st December 2023, there were 147 applicants on the waiting list in the Causeway Coast and Glens area with a bedroom requirement of 4 or more. The projected 5 year 2023-28 social housing need for Causeway Coast and Glens is 1,638 units. The Housing Executive’s Commissioning Prospectus indicative housing mix for Causeway Coast and Glens for this period is 17% older persons, 38% families (with focus on small family households) and 45% singles accommodation. Where there is an identified need for 4+ bed accommodation this will be reviewed with the Housing Association to ascertain feasibility on a scheme-by-scheme basis.

There have been 190 new social housing Completions in Causeway Coast and Glens area the last 3 years 2021/22 – 2023/24. 11 of these units have 4+ bedrooms. There are currently 277 social housing units under construction. 13 of these units have 4+ bedrooms. There are 699 social housing units programmed to start as part of the Social Housing Development Programme (SHDP) 2024/25 - 2026/27 in the Causeway Coast and Glens area.

It is not possible to provide the definitive detail on the exact housing mix across all these proposed new schemes, however each programmed scheme will be reviewed with the NIHE Place-shaping Team against the housing need for the area.

Please note that programmed schemes can be lost or slip to future programme years for a variety of reasons e.g. relating to delays in acquiring sites and/or failure to secure Planning Approval. Additional schemes can also be added to the SHDP ‘in-year’ through Competitive Land, Design & Build procurement route and/or the purchase of Existing Satisfactory / Off-the-Shelf properties.”

The construction of new social homes will be dependent on the available budget. The Executive has recently agreed the 2024/25 budget, I will now decide how this is allocated across my department. Funding for the Social Housing Development Programme (SHDP) for 2024/25 has yet to be finalised.

For any future queries relating to operational matters, you may wish to contact the Northern Ireland Housing Executive directly. Making direct contact with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive will ensure that you receive the information in the shortest possible timeframe and make best use of public resources.