Housing Executive reveals plans to build new social housing for first time in 20 years

Housing Executive Chief Executive Grainia Long reported; “We invested over £195m in 2021/22, the highest level of investment since 2007/08 and - for the first time in 20 years – we will soon commence building new homes for social rent via a pilot project.

“In Lisburn & Castlereagh, we invested £7.06m on planned maintenance including stock improvements last year, with a further £3.14m spent on response maintenance.

The Housing Executive, through the Supporting People programme, invested £4.75m to fund 69 Housing Support Services across the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Borough Council area, providing housing support to 1,371 clients last year.

“Across the borough, 894 people who presented as homeless were accepted for support last year,” continued the Chief Executive. “A strategic shift in favour of homelessness prevention and early intervention is critical if we’re to provide a sustainable model of provision to prevent homelessness.

“£48k in grant funding was provided to support local groups in the Borough, across several funding streams, including our Community Grants, Community Safety and Community Cohesion programmes.

“Last year, £2.06m was invested in new-build accommodation in the Borough, with 14 housing starts getting underway, 148 units on-site at March 2022, while housing completions for the year were 126.

“Against a backdrop of rising waiting lists, the Housing Executive recognises the importance of continued partnership with councils and the housing sector and the need for sustained levels of funding for social housing to address rising level of homelessness and growing waiting lists.

“The Minister for Communities’ programme for the revitalisation of the Housing Executive offers the key to a future that will deliver additional, more energy efficient and more appropriate homes.”