Agenda item

            The Committee was presented with an update report on the Social Housing Development Programme for Belfast during 2020/21, which included the following details:

·        Units completed 2020/21; 255;

·        Units under construction; 907; and

·        Units programmed to start; 1636.

            Ms. McGrath drew attention to a number of the larger schemes within the Development Programme, including Glenmona, Hannahstown, the St Gemma’s High School site, Brookfield Mill, Visteon Blacks Road and Upper Dunmurry Lane.  The Members were advised that a draft programme for 2021/22 had been developed but would not be published until it received DfC Ministerial approval. 

            In terms of the City Centre, the Members were advised that:

-       Work was ongoing with the developer at the Waterside/Sirocco site, however, development had slipped to a 2021/2022 start but discussions were scheduled regarding the delivery of shared housing under the Housing For All programme;

-       NIHE was continuing to work with Castlebrook on the social housing units at the Tribecca site;

-       The developer of a Titanic Quarter site had proposed 106 units of social housing, with a mixture of 1, 2 and 3 bed units, however no housing association had been appointed as yet.

            A Member provided an example of a family in his constituency in a single let for 5 years with no offer of permanent accommodation, and questioned what advice could be given in this instance. 

            Ms. McGrath noted that there were a number of new schemes under development in the area and confirmed that they were aware of the high need.  Ms. Hawthorne added that the same number of points could be considered high in some areas but low in others, and so she recommended that Members speak to the relevant NIHE Area Manager to find out what the allocations for an area were in order to have realistic conversations with their constituents and manage expectations.  She also explained that often people were offered permanent housing but turned it down as it was not in the area that they were now established in. 

            A Member commented that there was still some fear from communities and families around moving to apartment living in the City Centre.  She questioned whether a branding exercise was needed between the Council and the NIHE in order to make the move more appealing in terms of promoting green spaces, connectivity, regeneration, and the emerging availability of permanent housing. 

            Ms. McGrath agreed that, while it was common in other cities, it was not yet the norm in Belfast although an encouraging number of families had expressed an interest in living in the City Centre, similar in number to those on the general waiting list.  She stated that, once schemes were ready for allocation, people would be able to see what was available and it might be appropriate to undertake some branding work at this stage.  She also confirmed that housing would be provided to those with the highest points but it was too soon to know what the points level would be at this stage. 

            Another Member noted the positive lifestyle available to those living in the City Centre and questioned how the revitalisation of areas could be reimagined to include family homes which could make use of the increasing retail vacancies.  She also questioned whether planning rules dictated whether balconies could be included in new developments as this too may encourage apartment living.  

            Ms. McGrath confirmed that NIHE worked closely with Belfast City Council whose Local Development Plan foresaw a huge increase in the city centre population with up to 8,000 housing units.   She confirmed that the NIHE ask was for 20% of these units to be made up of social and affordable shared housing.  With regards to balconies, she confirmed that developers had insisted upon them at the Sirocco site but this was not standard a requirement.  The Members were also advised that DfC was working on increased space standards for apartments and flats, including additional storage spaces.   Ms. McGrath suggested that in time the area could be suitable for older populations too, with retirement villages offering social opportunities alongside apartment living. 

            A Member observed that the majority of new builds in East Belfast were apartments, and underlined the need for more family housing.  Ms. McGrath suggested that they did their best to provide a mix of housing, with most families requiring 2 or 3 bed accommodation.  Mrs. Hawthorne agreed that there was a lack of new building in East Belfast but noted that most existing housing in the area was family housing.  She explained that half of the waiting list was made up of single people and so the development plan needed to reflect this.  In conclusion, she raised the issue of under occupation, advising Members that there were a substantial number of single elderly people living in family accommodation and so it was important that support was provided to those who were willing to downsize in order to free up family accommodation.

            The Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, thanked the NIHE representatives for their attendance and noted the updates provided.