02/07/2013

New Housing Strategy To Deliver 'Affordable' Homes

A new housing strategy that aims to deliver "decent, affordable and sustainable homes" in Northern Ireland has been announced.

The Department for Social Development's plan follows public consultation last year.

It sets out key actions for housing until 2017, including:

  • driving investment in housing by establishing a new Housing Supply Forum


  • establishing a working group to prevent or reduce the impact of repossessions


  • managing the impacts of Welfare Reform


  • taking forward the social housing reform programme


  • developing an Empty Homes strategy and action plan


Housing Minister Nelson McCausland said: "My vision is to take a more strategic approach to housing in Northern Ireland. We consulted on the Strategy published last year and listened to people's views. This action plan is the roadmap to deliver decent, affordable and sustainable homes for people across Northern Ireland.

"This is a plan that will deliver for homeowners and tenants, in both the private and social rented sectors. It will ensure that my Department plays an active part in building our economy and creating jobs and homes for future generations. This means helping to create the right conditions for a stable and sustainable housing market that will support economic growth and prosperity. It means supporting the most vulnerable in our society to access housing and also means driving regeneration within our communities, particularly those suffering from blight or decline."

(IT/JP)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

06 August 2015
Crumlin Social Housing Scheme Opened
A new social housing scheme of three and four bedroom houses has been officially opened in Crumlin. The fourteen new homes for families on the social housing waiting list, is owned and managed by Habinteg Housing Association who funded the build, with support from the Department for Social Development.
11 December 2001
Dodds announces £4 million housing scheme
The Minister for Social Development Nigel Dodds has unveiled a £4 million housing development which will provide 40 new homes for the people of the New Lodge area in north Belfast.
25 November 2024
Other News In Brief
DfC Launch Public Consultation On Gender Pay Gap A consultation on proposed changes to Section 19 of the Employment Act (Northern Ireland) relating to the requirements for employers to publish information on the pay of male and female employees has been launched by the Department for Communities.
16 December 2011
Social Housing Project Boosts Builders
There was a pre-Christmas boost on housing this week with the keys being handed over to residents in one of Northern Ireland's biggest social housing developments to date.
09 December 2021
Housing Strategy To Deliver Over 100,000 New Homes
A new draft Housing Supply Strategy, which aims to deliver more than 100,000 homes, has been announced by Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey. Launching a public consultation on the draft Strategy, Minister Hargey said: "This Strategy is to deliver 100,000 plus homes over its 15 year lifetime.