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NIHE unveils investment plans for Newry, Mourne and Down
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) has unveiled plans to see 538 new social homes built in the south-eastern part of the country over the next three years.
At a meeting with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council on Monday, the 85,000-home landlord revealed it will invest £19.7m in the area during 2017/18 as part of its Housing Investment Plan, down on £25.1m last year.
The money will be spent on upgrading and investing NIHE stock, providing grant to housing associations and cash distributed through the Supporting People budget.
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Earlier this month, the housing authority provided an investment update for Derry and Strabane, which revealed it would be halving its investment in the area.
The NIHE had 2,367 households on its waiting list in the district on 31 March, while 824 people were declared homeless during 2016/17.
“Our Housing Investment Plan was informed by a range of stakeholders and developed as a comprehensive conversation piece for the whole housing sector in Northern Ireland,” Siobhan McCauley, director of regional services at the NIHE, told Newry, Mourne and Down councillors.
“Lots of work needs to be done to meet housing need, improve housing stock and provide support for the most vulnerable in our community – we will continue to play our part to ensure this work is delivered efficiently and effectively.”
Of the total investment in the area, £7.5m will be spent on maintenance, including outside work to 753 homes and revenue replacements to 401. Heating installations will be carried out in 273 units.
The remaining funds will be spent on grants for housing associations, capital improvement schemes, the Supporting People programme and grants to private sector homes occupied by older and disabled people for adaptation works.
Inside Housing has contacted the NIHE to ask how much housing association grant will be available.
