NI housing plans 'still on course'

Stormont minister Margaret Ritchie’s plans for more social and affordable housing in Northen Ireland remain on course, her officials insisted today.

The Department for Social Development (DSD) was responding to concerns that plans to axe 450 jobs and the decision by the Northern Ireland Co-Ownership Housing Association to stop accepting applications would place the SDLP minister’s plans in jeopardy.

A DSD statement said: “The Department wishes to make absolutely clear that all of the plans set out by the minister in her statement to the Assembly on the New Housing Agenda are still very much in place.

“In particular, there will be no relaxation of the targets for new social and affordable housing.

“The recent announcement by the Housing Executive about efficiency savings is an operational matter for the Housing Executive and will have no adverse impact on the minister’s housing agenda.

“As for co-ownership, the Northern Ireland Co-ownership Housing Association has received a huge financial increase since the minister took office and many people are benefiting. Given the unprecedented level of demand for co-ownership support, the minister will be looking for additional funding as and when
opportunities present.

“The Department can state that the minister’s targets relating to co-ownership will continue to be met.”

Last month Ms Ritchie unveiled a daring plan in the Assembly to significantly reduce the number of people on housing waiting lists, tackle homelessness and help people get their feet on the first rung of the property ladder.

The South Down MLA announced moves to make co-ownership schemes more attractive for first-time buyers, allow public housing tenants to buy a stake in their homes, introduce a not-for-profit mortgage rescue scheme, build an eco-village on the site of an Army barracks outside Enniskillen and increase energy efficiency in new social houses.

The SDLP minister also revealed developers would be asked to contribute to the provision of social and affordable homes by either earmarking a fifth of their site to them during the planning process, or by providing another site for them or equivalent funds.

An empty homes strategy will also be introduced to encourage those who own vacant property to bring them back into use.

The civil service union NIPSA has threatened strike action over the Housing  Executive job cuts.

The union has warned 10,000 civil service jobs will go over the next three years in a £790 million efficiency drive.

© 2008 ireland.com