Council Chair welcomes NIHE announcement

Councillor Cathal Mallaghan has described the announcement by his Sinn Fein party colleague, the Minister for the Department for the Communities, Carál Ní Chuilín MLA as “extremely welcome”.

The communities minister has confirmed the NIHE’s landlord section will now be regarded as an independent mutual organisation.

This change will allow it to borrow money and start building houses again – something the NIHE has not done for almost 20 years.

“We need to build more social homes, and we need to build them where they are needed,” said the communities minister.

“We need to sort out the long term future of the Housing Executive.  We need to make sure it can repair its homes, regenerate its estates and start building again.”

During a presentation to Mid Ulster District Council from the NIHE in September the intent to start building houses again was openly discussed by representatives of the NIHE.

Welcoming the announcement, Council’s Chair, Councillor Cathal Mallaghan said giving the NIHE the ability to build new homes would help tackle a key strategic issue within Mid Ulster – the availability of social housing.

“Affordable and social housing provision is a key strategic issue identified within the Mid Ulster Community Plan,” said the Chair.

“The district has one of the highest levels of social housing need, and yet, has one of the lowest levels of available NIHE and social housing properties across all Council areas here.

“Therefore, the announcement from the Communities Minister that the NIHE will be given new borrowing powers to start building homes again for the first time in decades is extremely welcome.

“The news is all the more timely given the impact of COVID-19 on the affordability of, and demand for social housing not only in our area but right across the region.”

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