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Plan to tackle 'housing crisis' Plan to tackle 'housing crisis'
(about 1 hour later)
A new housing agenda for Northern Ireland has been announced by Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie.A new housing agenda for Northern Ireland has been announced by Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie.
In a statement to the Assembly, she outlined a series of new measures to tackle the housing crisis. In a statement to the assembly, she outlined a series of new measures to tackle the housing crisis.
The plans include more social houses, the first eco village for Northern Ireland and more mixed religion areas.The plans include more social houses, the first eco village for Northern Ireland and more mixed religion areas.
Ms Ritchie said the plans "will start to immediately address the affordability crisis of today and the lack of social housing for tomorrow". Ms Ritchie told the assembly the Village area of south Belfast would be in line for £100m investment once it was declared an urban renewal area.
She said her housing plans "will start to immediately address the affordability crisis of today and the lack of social housing for tomorrow".
There are currently 38,000 people waiting for social housing in Northern Ireland.There are currently 38,000 people waiting for social housing in Northern Ireland.
To tackle the problems the social development department have reviewed a number of studies, including the recommendations of an independent report by the former head of the Civil Service, Sir John Semple.To tackle the problems the social development department have reviewed a number of studies, including the recommendations of an independent report by the former head of the Civil Service, Sir John Semple.
Housing plans
  • Build     more homes- at least 5,250 in the next three years
  • Make     the existing co-ownership scheme more attractive for first time buyers
  • Introduce     a not-for-profit Mortgage Rescue Scheme
  • Allow     existing social housing tenants the chance to buy a stake in their homes
  • Re-use     houses through an Empty Homes Strategy
  • Requiring     future developments to include a proportion of homes for social and affordable housing
  • Increase     the energy efficiency of new social houses.     		HOUSING PLANS Build at least 5,250 new homes over three yearsMake co-ownership scheme more attractive for first time buyersIntroduce not-for-profit Mortgage Rescue SchemeAllow social housing tenants to buy stake in their homesDevelopments to include a proportion of homes for social housingIncrease the energy efficiency of new social houses
    Ms Ritchie is proposing the first eco-village in Northern Ireland, which will be built on the former Grosvenor Barracks Military Base in Enniskillen.Ms Ritchie is proposing the first eco-village in Northern Ireland, which will be built on the former Grosvenor Barracks Military Base in Enniskillen.
    A total of 500 mixed tennure homes are to be built on the site. A total of 500 mixed tenure homes are to be built on the site.
    'Unfit housing' The minister also announced a £7m start for the Village area, after recent protests over unfit housing.
    The Minister also announced a £7m start for the Village area of Belfast, after recent protests over unfit housing.
    "The people of the Village have had to endure sub-standard housing for too long now."The people of the Village have had to endure sub-standard housing for too long now.
    "I gave them my word that I would not forget them and now that my budget has been finalised I am delighted to have been able to set aside substantial resources for work to begin in the area", she said."I gave them my word that I would not forget them and now that my budget has been finalised I am delighted to have been able to set aside substantial resources for work to begin in the area", she said.
    Earlier today, Tom McClelland of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said greater emphasis had to be placed on the creation of shared housing schemes. DUP South Belfast assembly member Jimmy Spratt has welcomed the announcement that the regeneration of the Village area is to get underway soon.
    "Shared communities are sustainable communities. This means greater efficiency and cost savings, enhanced quality of life and a healthier local and global environmental," he said. "Investment in this area, which it is no exaggeration to say has some of the worst housing stock in Northern Ireland is long overdue.
    "Other parts of the city have seen major re-development and home improvement project two or three times, whilst the Village has been left behind", he said.
    The new plans will have implications for developers, the Housing Executive and people trying to get onto the property ladder.The new plans will have implications for developers, the Housing Executive and people trying to get onto the property ladder.