Northern Ireland Housing Executive's

CONTENTS

SECTION ITEM PAGE

Foreword 3

1.0 Introduction 7

Executive Summary 9

2.0 Regional Housing Context 14 2.1 Introduction 14 2.2 Programme for Government 14 2.3 Economy 18 2.4 Land Use Planning Framework for Housing 19 2.5 Northern Ireland Demographic Profile 20 2.6 Northern Ireland Housing Market Context 21 2.7 Addressing Housing Issues 24 2.8 Summary 31

3.0 Belfast Housing Market Analysis 33 3.1 Introduction 33 3.2 Land Use Planning Framework 34 3.3 Demographics 35 3.4 Socio-Economic Context 36 3.5 Sustainable Development 38 3.6 Housing Context 39 3.7 Private Housing Market 40 3.8 Affordability 42 3.9 Social Housing 43 3.10 Main Issues 46

4.0 Belfast Local Housing Strategy 48 Delivering the Decent Homes Standard 48 Promoting Independent Living 50 Fostering Urban and Rural Regeneration 52 Promoting Affordable Housing 54 Building a Stronger Community 58 Delivering Better Public Services 60

5.0 Strategy Funding, Programmes and Performance 62 5.1 Funding Allocation 62 5.2 Grants Performance 63 5.3 Improvement and Planned Maintenance Programme 64 5.4 Social Housing Development Programme 69 5.5 Local Performance Review 76

SECTION ITEM PAGE

Appendices 81 Appendix 1 North Belfast Sector 82 Appendix 2 South Belfast Sector 91 Appendix 3 East Belfast Sector 97 Appendix 4 West Belfast Sector 105 Appendix 5 Shankill Sector 113 Appendix 6 Contact Information 120 Appendix 7 Useful Documents 122 Appendix 8 Glossary 124

Responses to District Housing Plan

This document has been produced by the Housing Executive’s Corporate and Area Planning teams. We would welcome your comments on this year’s plan. Comments should be sent to:

Mr S Semple Strategic Planning Manager Northern Ireland Housing Executive Housing Centre 2 Adelaide Street BELFAST BT2 8PB e-mail [email protected]

The District Housing Plans for the 26 District Councils will be available on our website at www.nihe.gov.uk

We can let you have a copy of the Plans in a language that meets your needs and in different formats, including large print, Braille, audio cassette, computer disk and DAISY format.

Foreword

This year we are pleased to introduce our ‘new look’ District Housing Plan. This represents a first stage in a transition to a local housing strategy document and provides information to local Councils on how we link our business objectives to Public Service Agreements. We will introduce further measures to align our Local Housing Strategies to the development of Northern Ireland’s Community Planning requirements, together with enhanced stakeholder involvement. Good strategic planning is at the core of the delivery of a quality service.

The District Housing Plans include a local housing market analysis summarising the main drivers which shape the local Housing Market within the District. Our regional strategies, programmes and initiatives are applied at the local level, where required, and are set out within the local housing strategy section. The Plans also provide an opportunity to report on performance for the past year (2007/08) and consult with local representatives on our proposed housing programmes and investment for 2008/09.

As ever, things do not stand still and we face some considerable challenges if we are to meet our objectives in the coming years.

The Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie MLA, announced her New Housing Agenda for Northern Ireland at the end of February 2008. While much progress has been made, we face significant challenges.

The housing issues in Northern Ireland have been much publicised of late, particularly the affordable housing shortage. Since April 2007 responsibility for the management of the Social Housing Development Programme was transferred to us from the Department, and in our first year we have exceeded in delivering the target. A total of 1,595 units were commenced against a target of 1,500 properties. In achieving this we would like to acknowledge the co-operation we have had from the Department for Social Development and the various Housing Associations. We look forward to building on those relationships to meet the challenges of the Housing Agenda for the coming years.

We will continue to work closely with DOE Planning Service in our role to provide Housing Needs Assessments for Draft Area Plans and to secure land for social and affordable housing through the planning process.

Progress continues on our programmes to deliver shared future housing schemes in those areas where an interest has been identified. The Programme for Government refers to other areas of relevance to our work, including; urban and rural regeneration; independent living for vulnerable people; good relations; renewable energy; sustainable development and reducing the carbon footprint.

During March 2008, The Minister for the Environment (Minister Foster) announced the Executive’s proposals for the Review of Public Administration. There is to be a reduction from 26 District Councils to 11 larger council areas and it was also announced that some housing related functions would be transferred from the Housing Executive to the new Councils. These will be:

• Inspection and regulation of Houses in Multiple Occupation • Unfitness inspections • Travellers transit sites • The Housing Executive will remain the Home Energy Conservation Authority for Northern Ireland. Councils will have the lead role in local initiatives.

Finally, under the priority entitled “Delivering Modern High Quality and Efficient Public Services”, we are required to produce 5% savings on administration costs each year for the next three years and obtain an overall 3% efficiency saving per year.

This is a challenging period but the Housing Executive remains committed to improving housing for everyone in Northern Ireland.

Brian Rowntree Paddy McIntyre Chairman Chief Executive

Our Vision for Housing in Northern Ireland

Our vision is one in which housing plays its part in creating a peaceful, inclusive, prosperous and fair society. We look to a society in which everyone will have:

• The right to be housed with a real choice of decent, accessible

and affordable housing options including shared future mixed housing in a diverse housing market;

• A renewed and strong sense of place and community;

• A sense of peace and well-being from living in a safe environment free from anti-social behaviour;

• A home which is set in a clean and pleasant environment;

• A home which is suitable to the individual’s needs; which is well designed, well maintained and is energy efficient;

• A home which has access to appropriate infrastructure in terms of employment, transport, education, schools, shopping and recreation;

• Empowerment to have a real voice in matters affecting their home and community and access to capacity building for disadvantaged groups to encourage meaningful participation;

• Support where it is needed to promote independent living.

The District Housing Plan is an important communication vehicle for local stakeholders and providers. Its purpose is to translate our vision and corporate objectives into a local housing strategy.

Mission Statement

“Working together to ensure that everyone has access to a decent affordable home in a safe and healthy community”

Core Values and Objectives

Our Core Values are: Corporate Objectives:

• Fairness and equity • Delivering the Decent Homes Standard • Integrity and honesty • Promoting independent • Openness and accountability living

• Care for the environment • Fostering urban and rural regeneration • Responsiveness to our customers • Promoting affordable housing • Value for money • Building a stronger • Valuing and developing our community staff • Delivering better public • Innovation and creativity services

1.0 Introduction

The Housing Executive believes that an effective strategic planning function is at the core of the delivery of good quality services, particularly when we enlist the support of partners to ensure that we all have access to a decent and affordable home in a sustainable community. We recognise that it is essential to understand the whole housing market in order to develop sound and robust Local Housing Strategies. This is why our strategic planning function extends beyond the pure landlord service. We recognise that issues such as affordable housing are better viewed on a holistic housing market basis.

For this reason the Housing Executive is introducing a revised District Housing Plan format in 2008/09 which will include a more comprehensive Housing Market Analysis. The results of these assessments will be used to underpin our Local Housing Strategies throughout NI. This approach is guided by Central Government policy and best practice guide for strategic planning and Local Housing Strategy development (the Department for Communities and Local Government Strategic Housing Market Assessment 2007).

The primary purpose of a Local Housing Strategy is to articulate a local direction for addressing the housing requirements, problems and opportunities of an area, taking into account national government policies and priorities.

In general Local Housing Strategies should:

• Demonstrate how housing issues and opportunities have been identified through an evidence-based approach; • Show how these issues and opportunities will be responded to strategically – through our Local Housing Strategies; • Demonstrate housing’s contribution to the Housing Executive’s wider Corporate Objectives, to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of residents in each area and contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development; • Provide a focus for continuous improvement in partnership working and resource planning to ensure that they more effectively meet local housing needs.

More specifically, Local Housing Strategies should:

• Address the housing needs and demands identified in all tenures;

• Address the housing requirements of all sections of the community;

• Consider the health, quality and broader environmental factors of housing within local areas.

This document is the first stage in our transition to a Local Housing Strategy. We will introduce further measures to align our Local Housing Strategies to the development of Northern Ireland’s Community Planning requirements, together with enhanced stakeholder involvement.

As in previous years, the District Housing Plan gives an overview of the Northern Ireland housing market and discusses issues which may impact on future housing development. The layout of the remainder of the document is as follows:

• Section 2, Regional Housing Context, gives an overview of those factors driving the regional housing market, Government policies influencing housing and those strategies drawn up to address housing issues;

• Section 3, Belfast Housing Market Analysis, sets out a more in-depth Local Housing Market Analysis for Belfast and highlights key housing issues for the district council area;

• Section 4, Belfast Local Housing Strategy, shows our Corporate Objectives translated into housing programmes, initiatives and priorities;

• Section 5, Strategy Funding, Programmes and Performance, details performance information on programmes and projected spend.

Together the Housing Executive’s ‘Review of the NI Housing Market’, ‘Corporate & Business Plan’ and the ‘District Housing Plans’ represent our overall housing strategy for Northern Ireland.

The Housing Executive’s policies are developed with equality considerations incorporated from the outset and we consult regularly and in depth, with our partners in the Consultative Forum on equality issues, and through the Housing Council and the Housing Community Network.

Executive Summary

Section 1: Introduction

The Review of Public Administration in Northern Ireland recommended that responsibility for Community Planning would be undertaken by the new Councils. In preparation for linking into the Community Plans, this year’s District Housing Plan represents a transition to a Local Housing Strategy document which will be further developed in future years, taking account of best practice.

The functions of the new enlarged councils will have an impact on our approach to community planning and we await with interest the final conclusion of these debates.

Section 2: Regional Housing Market

This section gives an overview of the Regional Housing Market in Northern Ireland. The main drivers are summarised below:

• The Government’s priorities – including growing a dynamic economy, promoting inclusion, protecting the environment, investing in infrastructure and the delivery of high quality and efficient public services; • During February 2008 the Minister announced in her Housing Agenda that she was “proposing radical changes and initiatives to deliver substantially more affordable homes”; • Land use planning framework for housing – The Regional Development Strategy sets the strategic planning framework at a regional level. PPS12 Housing in Settlements aims to manage housing growth within settlements and Draft PPS14 aims to manage growth in the countryside; • The NI population has increased and the demographic profile has important implications for housing such as the future number, design and support services required; • Housing conditions have improved since the 2001 House Condition Survey unfitness has been reduced from 4.9% to 3.4% at 2006. However, the number of households recorded as being in fuel poverty has increased to 34% over the same period;

• In the private sector house price increases are still a dominant feature although there was a slow down in the percentage increase during the final quarter of 2007 and a fall in the first quarter 2008. • The affordability index recorded that during 2007 there were no properties affordable to first time buyers on a median income in most districts. • The private rented sector has grown to 11.5% of total tenure and has become a more popular choice for younger households than here to fore; • The number of applicants registering for social housing has continued to increase, and the supply of social housing is not meeting the demand.

The Housing Executive is responding by:

• Developing our Corporate Objectives to take account of Government policies and priorities and linking them to outputs such as sustainable development and the Government’s Modernisation Programme; • Supporting the drive for urban and rural regeneration throughout Northern Ireland; • Providing Planning Service with Housing Needs Assessments to assist it in determining the land requirements for social housing; • Monitoring housing conditions, energy efficiency and fuel poverty through our House Condition Survey to inform areas for intervention and funding; • Monitoring the percentage of homes affordable to first time buyers and assisting taking forward applicable recommendations from the Semple Review on affordability; • Developing strategies to enhance housing services such as the Empty Homes Strategy, Rural Housing Strategy and the Private Rented Strategy; • Developing a Social Housing Development Programme based on housing need, taking into consideration the needs of vulnerable groups such as the Homeless, Travellers and those requiring Supported Housing; • Engaging with communities on a range of issues from community relations and safety through to shared future housing, race relations and connecting with young people.

Section 3: Belfast Housing Market Analysis

The Housing Market Analysis is a robust evidence based assessment of the whole Belfast housing market covering all tenures and how they interact. The findings of this assessment are used to underpin the proposed local housing strategy.

Land Use Planning

The Draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan allocated 316 hectares for housing in Belfast. It has also zoned land for 2,872 social housing units; a substantial shortfall in meeting Belfast’s housing need. In response to this shortfall the Housing Executive presented evidence to the BMAP Public Inquiry identifying the need to zone additional land for social housing. It is anticipated the final Plan will be published in 2011.

Demographics

• The population of Belfast has remained fairly static at around 270,000. However, there has been a substantial growth in the number of households with an increasing number of single households; • Inward international migration from incoming workers and their families has continued to increase.

Socio-economic factors

There is a need to tackle social health inequalities and to provide greater inclusion and community cohesion. A number of key indicators have been identified in this report:

• Belfast ranks as the second most deprived council area within Northern Ireland as defined by multiple deprivation indicators; • Many parts of Belfast remain deeply segregated; • Fuel poverty has increased by 11% mainly due to rising fuel prices.

Housing Market Context

The main trends identified are:

• Belfast private sector has experienced a boom in construction, reaching a high of 1,428 new build starts in 2007; • House prices have risen dramatically. The NI House Price Index indicates that over the last five years house prices increased by 131.5% with an average property price for 2007 of £241,500; • Housing conditions are relatively good with unfitness levels at 5.3% although there are geographical variations; • Owner occupation (58.5%) remains the largest tenure group in Belfast. However, since 2001 the private rented sector grew from 13,000 to over 16,500 at 2006; • Despite house price rises slowing down, home ownership remains out of reach for a high proportion of first time buyers in Belfast. During 2007 no house sales were considered ‘affordable’ as indicated by the Affordability Index model; • Demand for social housing has risen steadily over the last four years. The number of applicants on the waiting list is currently 9,553, a 28% rise since 2003. Approximately 5,590 are deemed to be in housing stress and current social rented supply is inadequate to meet demand; • The Housing Need Assessment demonstrates a need for 6,182 new social units for the next five years.

Section 4: Belfast Local Housing Strategy

Section 3 highlighted the issues that need to be addressed in the Belfast housing market and this section contains a summary of the Belfast local housing strategy under our Corporate Objective headings.

Objective 1 – Delivering the Decent Homes Standard

• Upgrade and improve our housing stock; • Continue to address unfitness in the private sector by targeting grants; • Target resources at fuel poverty.

Objective 2 – Promoting Independent Living

• Deliver a co-ordinated response to homelessness; • Ensure that housing support services help vulnerable people remain in their own homes.

Objective 3 – Fostering Urban & Rural Regeneration

• Continue to improve housing conditions as a commitment to renewal and regeneration; • Work with other agencies and communities to implement the Government’s Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy and other initiatives; • The delivery of local housing and regeneration strategies in North and West Belfast and Shankill; • The completion of two sectoral studies in South and East Belfast.

Objective 4 – Promoting Affordable Housing

• Work with Housing Associations to deliver a gross Social Housing Development Programme of 1,030 units in 2008/09 pending finance being available; • Seek to identify new housing sites and pursue surplus public sector lands for social / affordable housing; • Explore and bring forward innovative mixed tenure and low cost home ownership schemes with Housing Associations and others in the private and community sectors.

Objective 5 – Building a Stronger Community

• Work with others to promote and support community cohesion; • Continue to work with Belfast City Council and PSNI to address community safety issues; • Promote shared future housing schemes at Titanic Quarter and Sirocco sites.

Objective 6 – Deliver Better Public Service

• In the coming year we will strive to ensure that a high quality housing service is delivered to residents in Belfast.

Section 5: Strategy Funding, Programmes and Performance

In Belfast during the past year (2007/2008):

• A total of £47.95m was spent on housing by the NIHE in Belfast; • 67 new social housing schemes were completed delivering 884 units, with another 800 started on site; • 9 improvement schemes to Housing Executive stock were completed to 519 dwellings, and 540 started on site; • 1,472 Grants were approved.

During 2008/2009 we plan to:

• Spend £47.38m on providing and improving housing in Belfast; • Commence 308 improvements to Housing Executive stock; • Manage the current gross new build social programme of 1,030 dwellings.

Appendices

Belfast City Council area is subdivided into five sectors, North, South, East, West and Shankill. The appendices include a profile of each sector and a comprehensive suite of housing statistics.

2.0 Regional Housing Context

2.1 Introduction

This section describes the main drivers currently influencing the regional housing market. It reviews the housing market performance, outlining trends and emerging issues within and between tenures, and the response of the Housing Executive and other Government agencies in addressing specific issues.

2.2 Programme for Government

The Programme for Government, the Budget and Investment Strategy were published in January 2008. The Housing Executive welcomes the commitment to housing contained within these documents.

The Programme for Government sets out the Government’s key priorities over the next three years. The priorities are:

• Growing a dynamic innovative economy; • Promote tolerance, inclusion and health and well-being; • Protect and enhance our environment and natural resources; • Invest to build our infrastructure; • Deliver modern high quality and efficient public services.

There are a number of references within the document for the need for up to 10,000 new social and affordable homes over the next 5 years. In commenting on the consultation documents, the Minister for Social Development, indicated that social and affordable housing was her top priority. The Final Investment Strategy for housing is much better than was originally proposed in the draft Programme for Government. The additional funding goes a considerable way towards the target of 10,000 new social housing starts over the next five years. However, we will continue to monitor our social housing development programme and report on progress.

In addition there are references within the Programme for Government to other areas relevant to our work. These include urban/rural regeneration;

independent living for vulnerable people; good relations; renewable energy; and sustainable development.

Finally, under the priority entitled “Delivering Modern High Quality and Efficient Public Services”, all public services are required to produce 5% savings on administration costs each year for the next three years and also to obtain overall a 3% efficiency saving per year.

The Programme for Government has been constructed differently from previous ones. The Public Service Agreements (PSAs) are no longer formulated on a departmental basis, but are cross-cutting over 23 themes. The Housing Executive’s work links and contributes to a significant number of these PSAs and we link our business plans and reports directly to them. While many of the objectives within the PSAs influence our work, the main objectives for 2008 which relate to housing are:

Government’s Public Service NI Housing Executive’s Agreements (PSA) reference examples of key linked housing issues PSA 7 Objective 1 – Poverty and Social Housing Provision Child Poverty Supporting People PSA 7 Objective 2 – Social Homelessness, Travellers, Older Inclusion People etc PSA 7 Objective 4 – Fuel poverty Energy Conservation role, Warm Homes etc PSA 12 Objective 1 – Neighbourhood Renewal Work etc Neighbourhood Renewal PSA 12 Objective 2 – Access to Housing starts and completions, decent affordable housing Semple Review issues, Housing Need Assessments PSA 12 Objective 5 – Strong Community capacity, sustainable integrated sustainable communities development policy PSA 18 Objective 1 – Independent Disability adaptations, supporting living people PSA 22 Objective 2 – Energy Energy conservation role, efficiency & renewable energy improvements and planned maintenance programmes PSA 22 Objective 8 – Modern Housing Need Assessments etc planning system

Review of Public Administration and Community Planning

During March 2008 the Minister for the Environment, announced that the N I Executive had considered its approach to the reform of local government. There are a number of changes, with the current number of councils reducing from 26 to 11 larger councils. A number of housing-related functions will also transfer to the new Councils.

We look forward to engaging closely within the new structures in the interests of delivering the best possible services for the people of Northern Ireland.

The Housing Agenda for Northern Ireland

On 25th February 2008, Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie announced her Housing Agenda to address the need for more affordable housing. The Minister outlined plans to:

• Increase the number of units in the Social Housing Development Programme, with 1,500 starts this year rising to 1,750 and 2,000 in the next two years; • Investigate innovative ways of providing social and affordable housing using existing resources; • Bring empty homes back into use and the Minister has endorsed our proposed empty homes strategy; • Make the Co-ownership scheme more attractive for first time buyers; • Allow existing tenants the chance to buy a stake in their homes; • Bring forward a mortgage rescue scheme for people who have problems maintaining their mortgage commitments; • Develop the Girdwood site in North Belfast, preferably on a Shared Future basis; • Introduce a procurement strategy for housing associations to generate savings; • Funding for private sector grants and an intention to significantly increase resources for disability adaptations; • Declare “The Village” area in Belfast as an Urban Renewal Area; • Deliver Northern Ireland’s first eco-village to be sited in Enniskillen.

Adapted Property

The Minister also stated that Shared Future housing would be a central theme along with sustainable homes for social and affordable housing in Northern Ireland.

We will work with the Minister and consult with stakeholders about the implementation of these initiatives and are committed to supporting the Minister in obtaining the requisite funding to meet the investment needs of social housing. We continue to work with the Department for Social Development and other key stakeholders to this end.

Sustainable Development

Housing is important to sustainable development because:

• The location, planning, layout and design of housing makes an important contribution to the long term vitality and identity of communities; • Well-designed, constructed and maintained housing is essential to supporting sustainable communities that reflect diversity and social inclusion; • Good housing contributes to health and well-being, educational attainment and access to employment.

These factors have been reflected in the Government’s Sustainable Development Strategy for NI, first published in May 2006. The Sustainable Development Action Plan is currently being updated.

The Housing Executive’s Corporate Objectives and performance indicators, along with current progress, are cross referenced against each of the Sustainable Development Implementation Plan themes. This will allow us to gauge and demonstrate how our activities compare with good sustainable development practice and will help to ensure that our new and existing policies minimise adverse environmental and sustainability impacts.

Anti-Poverty Strategy

The NI Executive is reviewing the Lifetime Opportunities Strategy and is expected to publish proposals during 2008. We look forward to that review and will work to support any new policy.

Funding – Physical Programmes

Spending plans for physical programmes for 2008/09 are shown below:

Spend Category 2007/08 Out-turn 2008/09 Budget £m £m Social Housing 161.2 108.8 Development Programme *(93.9) NIHE Stock – Capital & 208.2 211.6 Revenue (inc URAs) Private Sector Grants 44.8 40.0 *The figure in brackets was the initial budget figure

As in previous years, we will bid in year for any shortfall of funding on the Social Housing Development Programme. Funding improvements and maintenance of Housing Executive stock is partly dependent on achieving a given amount of capital receipts around which there is a level of uncertainty given the current market conditions. Again we shall bid in-year for any shortfall.

Other factors impacting on the current year’s programmes include:

• The amount of commitment carried over from previous year(s) i.e. contracts commenced in previous years with the bulk of the expenditure in the current year; • New contract arrangements which may result in contracts spending faster thereby reducing the scale of programmes in year in order to remain within the annual budget; • General unforeseen contract difficulties which can cause delays.

2.3 Economy

Developments in the global economy have an important bearing on the economy of Northern Ireland. In the USA there are indications that its economy is entering recession as a result of the crisis in sub-prime lending in its housing market. The widely reported ‘credit crunch’, has resulted in the tightening of credit availability, affecting potential property purchasers. Securing a loan for a mortgage has become more difficult in the current financial climate in which Banks and Building Societies have substantially cut the range of mortgage products available. The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors reports that tighter lending criteria will impact on all housing borrowers and act as a barrier to first time buyers entering the housing market.

Employment and unemployment are two important indicators of economic well-being and therefore of the future health of the housing market. Recent statistics show that:

• Unemployment in Northern Ireland is the lowest in the UK regions at 4.3% compared to the overall UK rate of 5.4%; • Unemployment has increased since the previous quarter (Jun-Aug 2007) when it was 3.6%; • The labour market is set to weaken with job losses in construction and manufacturing; • Northern Ireland continues to show a lower level of earnings and a higher level of benefit dependency than for the UK as a whole.

With public expenditure set to increase at a slower rate than in recent years and the combination of indebtedness, higher food and fuel prices and increases in local taxation, these factors have the potential to impact negatively on purchasing power and economic growth in Northern Ireland, and in turn the housing market.

2.4 Land Use Planning Framework for Housing

The Regional Development Strategy – ‘Shaping Our Future’ continues to play an important role in shaping Northern Ireland’s housing market and sets the strategic planning framework at a regional level for the period up to 2025.

This includes planning to strengthen the regional economy and incorporates issues such as:

Transport Air quality Water quality Energy and waste strategies The environment Area Plans Social disadvantage

A review of the Regional Housing Growth Indicators (HGIs) took place during 2006 based on 2004 population projections; the regional figure was increased from 160,000 estimated new homes to 208,000 up to 2015. The population has shown signs of sustained increase and the Department for Regional Development (DRD) has carried out a further review of the HGIs. The outcome of this review should be published later this year.

In addition, the DRD’s PPS12 – ‘Housing in Settlements’ aims to manage housing growth in response to changing housing need. Under PPS12 the Housing Executive is responsible for Housing Need Assessments (HNAs) to inform the DOE Planning Service’s Area Plans. These HNAs will assist in determining the amount of land to be zoned for social housing. PPS12 also includes a specific policy relating to social housing provision, Policy HS2, which in principle, allows the Planning Service to grant planning permission for housing proposals where there is a social and/or affordable housing need identified by the Housing Executive and where this has not been zoned in the Area Plan.

In September 2007, in consideration of the Semple Review into Affordable Housing, the Minister for the Department for Social Development (DSD) asked the DRD to review Planning Policy Statement 12. Following a judicial review in 2007 the responsibility for PPS12 transferred from DRD to DOE, in January 2008. The review of PPS12 and development control policy HS2 is still ongoing.

There are 13 (DOE Planning Service) Area Plans in Northern Ireland. Map 1 indicates the current status of these Plans.

The Area Plan programme process has been delayed following a legal challenge to the Northern and Magherafelt Area Plans. Such delays have an impact on our ability to deliver social housing through the planning process.

Map 1: Area Plans Status

Based upon Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland’s data with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office © Crown copyright and database rights NIMA EH&SA 209.3

Planning Policy Statement 14 (PPS 14) ‘Housing in the Countryside’

We continue to liaise with the Department of the Environment on draft PPS14. The initial draft had included provision for some social housing in areas outside existing settlements; the Housing Executive suggested that this provision should be for more homes than the eight units initially proposed and that it include affordable; (Co-ownership) housing. It is anticipated that a revised policy will be published in 2008 and the Housing Executive is hopeful that these issues will be addressed in the revised PPS.

2.5 Northern Ireland Demographic Profile

The demographic profile has important implications for housing not only for the number of new dwellings required, but also their design and the growing need for housing support services to help older people live independently in their own homes.

The population of Northern Ireland has increased by 6.8% since the 1991 census, and at 2001 there were 1.685 million people. Latest (NISRA) figures (2006) estimate the resident population to be 1.742 million. The average household size has continued to fall and is 2.55 at 2006 compared to 2.65 at 2001.

The increase in population between mid 2006 and mid 2007 is made up of natural change (8,300); net migration into Northern Ireland from GB (900 people) and estimated net international migration into Northern Ireland from outside the UK (9,000 people) and is the first year when international net migration has been higher than the natural population change.

The most recent population projections indicate that between 2006 and 2021:

• There will be an increase in the number of children under 16 from 380,000 to 393,000: (partly as a result of an increase in birth rate and partly due to immigration); • A growing number and proportion of people of pensionable age (19%); • The number of people aged 75 and over is projected to increase substantially by 54,000 (49%), to 164,000.

2.6 Northern Ireland Housing Market Context

The Northern Ireland housing market has changed over the last five years and it has become a more desirable location in which to live and work. Second home ownership throughout Northern Ireland is also on the increase.

Northern Ireland’s total housing stock was approximately 705,000 at 2006 (HCS). The tenure breakdown of the stock is:

Owner/Occupied 66.5% NIHE 13.3% Housing Association 3.1% Private Rented 11.5% Vacant 5.7%

According to DSD figures 95% (14,731) of new dwellings started during 2006- 2007 were in the private sector. Housing Associations were responsible for (732) of the public sector dwelling starts.

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s House Condition Survey is carried out every five years. We use it to gauge levels of unfitness, the need for improvement and grant aid. It is also an important source of information on the energy efficiency of homes and for those experiencing fuel poverty.

• Housing conditions in Northern Ireland have improved with 3.4% of dwellings unfit at 2006, a significant reduction from the 2001 percentage of 4.9%; • Unfitness remained higher in rural areas at 5.4% with only 2.6% of urban properties being recorded as unfit; • There has been a reduction in the percentage of properties failing the Decent Homes Standard from 32% at 2001, to only 23% at 2006, with the majority of properties failing on the basis of thermal comfort.

The Private Sector

The Private Sector, of recent years, has been characterised by:

• Buoyant levels of construction over the past ten years. Between April 2006 and March 2007 a total of 14,731 new private sector dwellings were started. However, most recent figures indicate a sharp downturn in output levels;

• This sector has been characterised by rapidly increasing house prices in recent years. However, there is a slow down and falls in house prices, at end of Quarter one 2008, the average house price for Northern Ireland was £230,908. This represents a reduction of 4.6% in average house prices since December 2007 but is still 7.5% higher than the average price in March 2007. The Northern Ireland Quarterly House Price Index Q1, 2008 stated that “the number of house sales in the first three months of 2008 dropped to its lowest levels in 25 years” and “there were 896 transactions between January and March 2008 compared to 2120 over the same period in 2007.

• According to the Affordability Index 2007 recorded that 25 of the 26 District Council areas had nil percent affordable house sales. Larne Council was the exception with one percent of sales being affordable;

• The proportion of house sales to first-time buyers continued to fall during 2007. In 2001, 60% of all sales were to first time buyers. By 2006 the figure was 32% and by 2007 the proportion had fallen to 29%;

• Slowing economic activity, weak confidence, tightening lending criteria mean that falling house prices are unlikely to revive the first time buyer housing market;

• Incomes have not increased in line with house prices making it increasingly difficult for first time buyers on lower incomes to access the owner occupied market. As a consequence, it is believed that they are turning to other tenure choices such as the private rented sector and social housing;

• Recently, credit has been more difficult to secure, with lenders now requiring larger deposits;

• The Northern Ireland Co-ownership Housing Association provides an affordable housing option facilitating those households on lower incomes to access the owner occupied sector. During 2007/08, in Northern Ireland, over 900 households were helped into an affordable home. However, the Chief Executive of Co-ownership Housing Association announced that at the close of business on Friday 14th March 2008, Co-ownership would be unable to accept any new applications. He stated that the 2008/09 funding allocation would be insufficient to meet any further applications but that he did not expect the announcement to affect the 700 plus households currently in the process of purchasing their home.

Private Rented Sector

The number of homes in the Private Rented Sector has increased rapidly since the 2001 House Condition Survey (HCS). Our recent HCS Survey (2006) estimates that the Private Rented Sector accounts for 11.5% of total stock, an increase of 64% since 2001.

The Private Rented Sector:

• Is an important tenure choice for students and migrant worker households; • Is increasingly dominated by younger households according to our research commissioned from the University of Ulster; • Plays an important role in housing single person households including students and young professionals and those on low incomes in the HMO market (Houses in Multiple Occupation).

Despite the increased demand, banks are tightening lending criteria for existing and prospective landlords in the buy-to-let market. The buy to let market has also been impacted by the anticipated decline in house prices. This would appear to have resulted in those first time landlords who have recently engaged in the sector selling their properties as they anticipate limited or even a negative return on their investment.

The Social Housing Sector

The social housing sector in Northern Ireland comprises both the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Housing Associations.

The Housing Executive is a Non-Departmental Public Body, established by the Housing Executive Act (Northern Ireland) 1971. Under the terms of the Act, the Housing Executive became Northern Ireland’s single comprehensive regional housing authority, which delivers both a strategic housing role and landlord services.

Some of the Housing Executive’s primary responsibilities are: to regularly examine housing conditions and housing need; to draw up programmes to meet these needs; to improve the condition of the housing stock; to consult with District Councils and the Northern Ireland Housing Council and it is the Home Energy Conservation Authority for Northern Ireland.

A Housing Association is a voluntary organisation dedicated to helping people obtain decent affordable accommodation which meets their needs. Any financial surplus is re-invested in the association’s activity and Board members receive no payment for their work.

There are 36 Housing Associations currently registered by the Department for Social Development. Of these, 35 provide rented accommodation and the other (Northern Ireland Co-ownership Housing Association) enables households to part-buy and part-rent a home, with the right to buy more equity until they become full home owners.

All housing associations are subject to strict rules and regulations set and monitored by the Department for Social Development. Each has its own voluntary management board or committee which is responsible for ensuring that the association acts in compliance with these rules and regulations. As with the Housing Executive, they are subject to independent scrutiny and audit.

In March 2007 Northern Ireland’s social housing sector (including NIHE and Housing Association stock) consisted of approximately 113,300 dwellings (approx 16% of total housing stock). The Housing Executive owned and managed some 91,000 dwellings. Registered Housing Associations manage around 22,300 dwellings and a further 4,300 bed spaces in shared accommodation such as supported housing or temporary accommodation.

The condition of Housing Executive stock is good, with 75% meeting the Decent Homes Standard. Nevertheless, there is a significant amount of improvement and replacement work still to be carried out.

Waiting list trends for social housing show an increased number of applicants registering on the waiting list over the past five years and a decreasing number of allocations of social stock, as illustrated in Chart 1.

Chart 1: Northern Ireland Waiting List Trends

Housing Applicants Housing Stress Allocations 38,346 34,334 31,459 26,984 28,204

20,695 18,701 16,817 13,803 14,771

8,722 8,383 8,095 8,018 7,456

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Source: NIHE

More detailed information on Northern Ireland’s housing market can be found in our Review and Perspectives 2008 – 11 publication.

2.7 Addressing Housing Issues

The Housing Executive has developed its Corporate and Business Plan which sets our goals, objectives and targets covering the period 2008-2011. There are six Corporate Objectives along with supporting strategies that cover the social and private housing sectors. This section shows how we are addressing housing need in the different sectors of the housing market.

In response to the Government’s modernisation programme, and in recognition of the changing challenges for social housing service delivery, the Housing Executive has reviewed working arrangements across Northern Ireland and agreed a new structure and ways of working which will allow us to deliver the high quality services expected from us.

The Housing Executive carries out a programme of research on housing matters and customer service provision which in turn are used to inform policy.

Regeneration

The DSD is taking the lead in urban regeneration for Northern Ireland. The Housing Executive continues to play a pivotal role in supporting the drive for urban and rural regeneration throughout Northern Ireland. Regeneration is not only about the physical environment but includes improving the economic, community and social aspects of places where people live.

Urban Renewal Areas (URAs) are an important part of our work in making towns and cities better places to live. We have completed a number of these URAs where we carry out demolition of poor housing which stimulates investment in the area. Rural regeneration is given the same priority as urban issues and we are tackling rural issues through our updated Rural Housing Strategy.

We are involved in other related areas of regeneration, for example, our involvement in over 400 regeneration partnerships, (including Health Action Zones and neighbourhood renewal areas) along with various district council initiatives.

We also work with the private/public sector and community sectors to ensure our investment in housing supports and contributes to the wider regeneration and sustainable development of these areas.

Housing Conditions, Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency

A total of £44.875m was paid in grants to assist in reducing unfitness in the private housing sector. Grants can be paid for renovation and replacement of properties, disabled facilities, repairs (including group repair) and Houses in Multiple Occupation, in certain circumstances.

The 2006 House Condition Survey indicated that fuel poverty had risen markedly in Northern Ireland and represented 34% of households (226,000). This compares to 27% in 2001 and is primarily due to fuel price increases.

A household experiencing fuel poverty is one in which more than 10% of their income needs to be spent on domestic energy costs.

Energy efficient homes can assist in lowering heating expenses and thus help reduce fuel poverty. As Northern Ireland’s Home Energy Housing Association new build in Holywood Conservation Authority we are required to make a significant improvement in the energy efficiency of the residential sector. The 2006 House Condition Survey confirmed that we are continuing to make good progress towards increasing the number of properties that are energy efficient.

Since 1996, energy efficiency in the Northern Ireland housing stock improved by 20%. However in terms of fuel poverty this improvement was undermined by escalating fuel price rises. There is no doubt, however, that without this energy efficiency improvement, fuel poverty levels would have been much higher as a result of these price rises.

Affordable Housing

The final report of Sir John Semple’s independent Review of Affordable Housing was published in April 2007 and made a total of 80 recommendations. The overall objective of the review was to consider the range of government interventions in the housing market via the planning and housing systems that could increase the supply of social housing, support the private sector and assist intermediate households into home ownership.

In response to the recommendations, an advisory panel was set up to provide advice and expert opinion to the Minister. The Housing Agenda for Northern Ireland was announced during February 2008, and contained a number of references to affordable housing, of relevance to the Housing Executive.

The Affordability Index for Northern Ireland recorded that there were no properties sold at an affordable price during 2007 in 25 of the 26 Council areas, based on the median income of £17,019 with a purchasing potential of £70,150. We will continue to monitor the affordability situation in relation to house prices, incomes and median incomes along with other market factors.

We continue to supply housing needs assessments to the DOE Planning Service indicating affordable housing issues, to be taken into consideration under PPS12.

The sale of social stock to sitting tenants has provided another affordable route into home ownership, however with increased property values over the last few years and less generous discounts this may not be as attractive an

option as it has been in the past. During 2006/07 there were 2,201 Housing Executive properties sold compared to 798 for 2007/08.

Rural Housing Strategy

Following extensive consultation during 2006-07, the Housing Executive launched its ‘Rural Homes and People’ action plan for rural villages and in May 2007. This plan set out a range of proposed actions under 5 themes:

• Enabling New Homes; • Improving Existing Properties; • Building and Serving Communities; • Supporting Independent living; • Rural Development and Regeneration.

Work has commenced on implementing the rural action plan and the first annual progress report on ‘Rural Homes and People’ will be published and circulated in early summer 2008.

Best Practice research is also underway into ways in which rural housing need is identified and measured elsewhere in the U.K. to determine if the Housing Social Housing, Boho, Fermanagh Executive’s current methodologies can be further improved.

Private Rented Sector Strategy

It is important to recognise the contribution that this sector can make as an affordable housing option for a wide range of households. The joint NIHE/DSD Strategy for the private rented sector entitled ‘Renting Privately: A Strategic Framework’ has achieved many of its aims to promote and sustain a healthy private rented sector and we are now considering a fresh approach to new and emerging issues which need to be addressed.

Empty Homes Strategy

The Semple Review identified the high level of vacant dwellings in Northern Ireland, the majority of which are in private ownership. In light of growing affordability issues, matched by a shortage in both private and public sector provision, it is crucial that the best use is made of empty dwellings. The Housing Executive was tasked with developing an Empty Homes Strategy

with a view to identifying those dwellings which had the potential to be returned to use. This Strategy has been endorsed by the Minister for Social Development. The proposals to introduce rating of empty domestic dwellings from April 2009 would be a significant incentive in encouraging owners to bring empty dwellings back into use.

Social Housing

The overall Regional need for social housing is assessed by the Housing Executive using a ‘top down’ Net Stock Model. The latest modelling was carried out in 2006 and published in February 2007. This indicated:

• The need for 2,200 new social dwellings per annum in Northern Ireland to meet the ongoing demographic demands; • An overall figure of 2,500 is required to allow for the growing backlog of social housing completions against the yearly targets.

The model will be revised in 2008 in the light of updated household projections and housing stock figures.

‘Bottom up’ Housing Needs Assessments are also carried out by the Housing Executive to determine local housing requirements for both urban and rural areas. The 2007 assessment corroborates the Net Stock Model to demonstrate a need for a minimum of 2,500 units per annum.

The management of the Social Housing Development Programme was transferred to the Housing Executive in April 2007. During 2007/08 there were 1,595 units of social housing started / acquired and in the coming year (2008- 2009) the programme target aims to commence / acquire 1,500 new social dwellings increasing to 1,750 and 2,000 for the following two years (2009/2011), subject to funding being available.

It is anticipated that with fewer public sector house sales and demolitions together with the increase in the target new build starts over the next 3 years, the level of social housing stock will remain broadly static. However, it is expected that if affordable housing pressures remain constant, social housing need will continue to rise over the next few years despite the increase in new build targets.

Housing Associations are key partners of the Housing Executive in the delivery of the Social Housing Development Programme. It is the Housing Executive’s role to draw up the Social Housing Development Programme, to approve scheme submissions from Associations, and allocate public sector funds necessary to develop the individual schemes. It is the Associations’ role to bring forward the scheme proposals, to raise the private finance necessary to complement the public funds, to procure the schemes through their consultants and builders/developers, and to manage the housing subsequently provided. The Housing Executive does not build new social housing; this is, however, a key role of Housing Associations.

Land for Social Housing

Housing Associations, in attempting to develop new social housing schemes, are in competition with private developers to secure land. The Housing Executive will assist by identifying suitable land within its ‘landbank’ for Housing Associations to develop. However, the land bank is not sufficient to meet all housing needs and the Housing Executive is working with Government to secure the use of former Ministry of Defence and other Government lands which have now become surplus to requirements.

Vulnerable Groups

Within the overall waiting list statistics, there are a number of vulnerable groups whose housing needs require to be assessed in order to develop both new build and maintenance programmes to meet these needs. The following groups fall within this category:

Travellers A Housing Need Assessment was carried out for Travellers for the period 2003 to 2008. This resulted in a five year programme of schemes to address their accommodation needs in Northern Ireland. A further five year assessment 2008 – 2013 will be completed during 2008.

Supported Housing The needs of people requiring supported housing is agreed and prioritised over a five year period. The overall responsibility for administration of the Supporting People programme is the Supporting People Commissioning Body. This is chaired by the Housing Executive and is made up of representatives from the Department of Health & Social Services, Public Safety, the Probation Board for Northern Ireland and the four Health and Social Services Boards.

Homeless Applicants During the year ending March 2008 a total of 19,030 households presented as homeless throughout Northern Ireland representing, a 10% decrease on the March 2007 figures. Of those who presented 9,234 were awarded homeless status, a reduction of 5.2% on the March 2007 figures. The main reasons for presenting as homeless were: breakdown of sharing and loss of rented accommodation. We have worked to find the best housing solutions, and adopted the findings of the Promoting Social Inclusion Working Group on Homeless. In addition, homeless action plans have been developed to respond locally to homelessness issues.

Older People Elderly people as a proportion of the population are increasing and this is reflected in our waiting list. We welcome the Government’s decision to appoint a Commissioner for Older People and we look forward to working together to improve and better meet the housing needs of older people.

Community Cohesion

The Northern Ireland Assembly’s Programme for Government and Budget recognizes that building a shared and better future for all people is a strategic priority. It aims ‘to build a peaceful, fair and prosperous society in Northern Ireland.’ We will work with local councils to deliver our community cohesion objectives as well as with a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community organizations. There are different and inter-linking aspects to building stronger communities such as:

Community Relations Throughout Northern Ireland we meet tenant and community representatives through the Housing Community Network.

Community Safety Our strategic approach provides a range of mainstream services designed to address all forms of anti-social behaviour connected with our stock.

Housing & Health Our Housing and Health Strategy has been reviewed and revised during 2007. We are in the process of developing an updated Implementation Plan following the consultation responses.

Children and Young People Over the past two years we have engaged with the education sector to consider ways in which we can engage with young people and children who will become users of our services in years to come. We are now extending the work of the Housing Community Network to provide a place where young people can let us know what they feel we should be doing to improve their housing options.

Shared Future Housing Part of our approach has been working with existing communities as well as creating new ones. We have been successful in a major bid for funding to the International Fund for Ireland. This money, over 3 years, will allow us to help promote good relations in 30 estates across Northern Ireland.

Race Relations Our Race Relations policy, which is fully aligned with Government’s Race Equality Strategy, contains an action plan of which key aspects include:

• Mainstreaming Black and Minority Ethnic Issues (BME); • Developing multi-agency approaches to Racial Harassment; • Promoting Black and Minority Ethnic Inclusion; • Community Participation and Development; • Migrant Workers.

Further information on how these regional policies and programmes are operating at the local level can be found in the Local Housing Strategy section of this document.

2.8 Summary

• The Programme for Government, along with the Public Service Agreements, sets out the Government’s priorities for the next three years. We are working to ensure that our Corporate Objectives are aligned with the Government’s priorities and the wider housing challenges;

• The Review of Public Administration indicates that there will be a reduction in the number of Councils from 26 to 11. Some housing functions are to be transferred to these new councils;

• In February the Minister announced her Housing Agenda to address the need for more affordable housing. We will work with the Minister and consult with stakeholders on the implementation of these initiatives;

• The funding for physical programmes will be monitored and, as in previous years, it may be necessary to bid in-year for any shortfall;

• Higher food and fuel prices, increases in local taxation and the tightening of credit has the potential to impact, in a negative way on economic growth and therefore the housing market;

• The Housing Growth Indicators (HGIs) for Northern Ireland are currently under review. Legal challenges continue to delay the DOE Area Plan programme;

• PPS12 is currently being revised with a view to delivering affordable housing through Area Plans/development control Policy HS2. We continue to provide Housing Need Assessments to inform DOE;

• Draft PPS14 (Housing in the Countryside) has been issued for consultation and a revised policy is due to be published during 2008;

• The population of Northern Ireland has continued to increase, while the average household size continues to decrease. This has implications for the number and size of future dwellings;

• Despite recent house price falls, prices remain out of reach for many first time buyers resulting in increasing social waiting lists and more people turning to the private rented sector;

• Credit and loans for mortgages have become more difficult to secure in the current financial climate;

• There is an annual need for 2,500 new social houses. The targets for the social development programme are drawn from the new Housing Agenda and for 2008/09 the target is 1,500 dwellings, increasing to 1,750 for 2009/10 and 2,000 for 2010/11. Despite this increase in targets it is expected that social housing need will continue to rise;

• Housing conditions have improved although there are geographical variations between urban and rural housing;

• A number of Housing Executive strategies have been developed to address housing issues. Additionally, Government has initiated reviews such as the Semple Review into Affordable Housing;

• We continue to work closely with other government agencies, Housing Associations, the voluntary sector and local communities on housing related issues.

3.0 Belfast Housing Market Analysis

3.1 Introduction

To inform a Local Housing Market Analysis the Housing Executive undertakes a Housing Need Assessment (HNA) for Belfast. This HNA is an evidence based assessment which incorporates all housing tenures, analysing their dynamics, relationships and impact on each other. Its main purpose is to:

• Inform DOE Planning Service of social housing requirements over a five year period and indicate affordable housing pressures;

• Formulate the Social Housing Development Programme for Belfast, including establishing new build priorities.

This chapter summarises the main drivers which shape the Belfast Housing Market and inform the Housing Needs Assessment. It begins with an overview of the land use and planning framework, followed by a review of demographic trends and then moving to consider the main socio-economic drivers. The chapter also includes a considered analysis of the Belfast Housing Market.

Area and District Boundaries

The Housing Executive’s Belfast Area boundary coincides with that of the Belfast City Council. Belfast Area is divided into five housing management districts: North Belfast, Shankill, West Belfast, South Belfast and East Belfast. (Map 2)

33 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Map 2: Belfast Council Area

Based upon Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland’s data with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office © Crown copyright and database rights NIMA EH&SA 209.3 Source: NIHE GIS

3.2 Land Use Planning Framework

The planning context for Belfast is set out in the Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland 2025: ‘Shaping our Future’ and the draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan’s Housing Strategy. Their aims are to:

• Achieve revitalised and compact urban areas;

• Secure higher density development while protecting the quality of the urban environment;

• Create the development of balanced local communities and provide housing choice by achieving a mix of tenures;

• Meet identified needs for social housing;

• Develop a Houses in Multiple Occupation Plan.

The Department for Regional Development’s, (DRD) Housing Growth Indicators (HGI’s) represent a key element of the Regional Development Strategy. These indicators show the new build requirement for Belfast Metropolitan Area during the period 1998-2015 as 62,500 additional dwellings. The draft Metropolitan Area Plan has allocated 316 hectares for housing in Belfast (out of a total of 1,831 for the whole Belfast Metropolitan Area). It has also identified land for approximately 2,872 social housing units,

34 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

a substantial shortfall in meeting Belfast’s housing need. In response to this shortfall the Housing Executive presented evidence to the BMAP Public Inquiry identifying the need to zone additional land for social housing. It is anticipated the final Plan will be adopted in 2011.

In Belfast, the Housing Executive is working with Planning Service to deliver affordable housing in key strategic development sites including Titanic Quarter and the former Sirocco works. Planning approval has also been granted in several smaller development sites with a condition that social housing is delivered as part of the overall housing mix. These include development sites at Ben Madigan and Annadale.

3.3 Demographics

The population of Belfast continues to fall in contrast to many other UK cities which have experienced economic recovery. As a result of outward migration to the wider Belfast Metropolitan Area there has been a net population loss in Belfast of 21,000 between 1996 and 2006. Although this decline has slowed considerably, projections predict a continuing population loss in young couples and family households. Details are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Demographic Information - Population 1996 2006 2017 Mid Year Mid Year Projections* Estimates Estimates

Children 67,499 23% 53,213 20% 48,425 19% Working Age 169,315 59% 166,989 62% 159,715 62% Older People 51,699 18% 47,172 18% 47,649 19% Total 288,513 267,374 255,789 Source: Registrar General mid year figures 1996 & 2006 and 2017 projections *These projections are based on current population trends

In contrast, there has been a substantial growth in the number of households living in the city. Current projections predict a 2.6% increase from 113,900 in 2006 to 116,900 by 2017. A major household trend has been a move towards smaller households with a significant increase in young and mature single person household groups. These trends have an important influence on community infrastructure needs, schools, health and leisure facilities and in shaping the future of Belfast’s housing market in terms of additional requirement, dwelling size and form.

Migration

There has been a marked increase in the number of migrant workers living in Northern Ireland in the last three years since the Eastern European countries (A8 accession countries) joined the European Union. Migrant workers from these countries are required to register under the Worker Registration

35 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Scheme (WRS). In the period from May 2004 to June 2007, 4,070 WRS applications were approved in Belfast with the highest percentage, 67%, being Polish applicants.

Migrant workers are important to the economy of Belfast and are a vital addition to the existing workforce offering a range of skills and cultural diversity. The Housing Executive has identified three main activities to assist incoming workers and their families;

• Promoting access and removing barriers to housing services;

• Identifying the housing needs of incoming workers and their families;

• Providing support for arriving families and the communities in which they live.

3.4 Socio-Economic Context

Economic Development

In the last decade Belfast as a city has experienced sustained investment and economic growth. There is increased confidence in the city as a result of the ‘peace process’ and subsequent political developments. This has helped create a positive economic environment with the expansion of retail outlets, a re-invigorated tourist and entertainment industry, low unemployment and a housing boom.

Belfast’s economic base has shifted from traditional industry and manufacturing to an expanding service sector. Unemployment has continued to fall and there has been a need to complement the indigenous workforce. Significantly, many of the newly created jobs in the service industry are low paid and part time, affecting disposable income and access to housing.

Future economic growth will be dependent on making Belfast a competitive location, promoting skills, innovation and entrepreneurship and modernising infrastructure. To achieve these aims Belfast City Council proposes a vision of Belfast as ‘a true twenty-first century city with a vibrant innovation-led economy where people are proud to live, work and visit’ (Belfast City Council Corporate Plan) and is promoting a development through its State of the City initiative, Capital City development strategy, Staying Competitive economic development plan and proposed Belfast: Masterplan 2004-2020.

Community Regeneration

Housing has a vital role in the urban regeneration process and there are a number of current and future regeneration initiatives in Belfast. Under the DSD’s Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy for Northern Ireland – People and Place – launched in 2003, Belfast’s Regeneration Office has identified twelve Neighbourhood Renewal Areas for physical, social, economic and community

36 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

renewal. Action in these areas is being driven by Neighbourhood Partnerships with particular emphasis on community led activity.

A number of other area-based regeneration initiatives have been introduced which will impact on housing and assist in sustaining communities in the city.

These include:

• The Areas at Risk and Local Community Fund community regeneration programmes;

• Strategic regeneration frameworks commissioned from the five Area Partnerships in Belfast to set the context for regeneration initiatives in their areas;

• Development masterplans commissioned for inner city areas in East Belfast, Lower Shankill, Shore Road, Crumlin Road and Lower Falls;

• The Renewing the Routes initiative led out by Belfast City Council which continues to develop and implement integrated regeneration plans to reverse economic, social, physical and environmental decline in several of the main arterial roads leading into the city;

• The Belfast City Centre Regeneration Strategy which, while focusing on promoting and facilitating regeneration that reinforces economic development and improves the public realm, recognises the potential for housing as part of mixed use developments in the masterplans currently being developed.

Deprivation

Many communities in Belfast continue to experience high levels of deprivation and disadvantage despite considerable economic revival in the city as a whole. The Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure (NIMDM) 2005, ranks Belfast as the second most deprived council area within Northern Ireland, with 37 of Belfast’s Super Output Areas featuring in the top 50 most deprived areas. The highest concentrations of deprivation are located in North and West Belfast.

The DSD reported in 2007 that over half of Northern Ireland’s households have income of less than £300 per week. Belfast had the highest proportion of low income households, with pensioners being in greater risk of poverty.

Fuel Poverty

A household is considered to be in fuel poverty if, ‘in order to maintain an acceptable level of temperature throughout the home it would have to spend more than 10% of its income on all household fuel’. Belfast has experienced an increase in fuel poverty from 27% of households in fuel poverty in 2001 and 38.5% in 2006, compared to the Northern Ireland average of 34%. This

37 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

increase can mainly be attributed to rising fuel prices. The private rented sector in Belfast has the highest proportion of households in fuel poverty (44%).

Community Cohesion

Government’s ‘A Shared Future’, policy and strategy framework for good relations has directed efforts to establish a more pluralist, tolerant and cohesive society. Belfast in many respects remains a deeply fragmented city. While there has been an expansion of a ‘shared middle class lifestyle’ in South Belfast and parts of East Belfast, the pattern of segregation remains prevalent in much of the city, particularly in lower income neighbourhoods. This continues to have significant implications for housing markets and the delivery of public services.

In addition, the population of Belfast has become more diverse with the growth of ethnic minority communities and a significant arrival of migrant workers.

The Housing Executive continues to implement its policy on race relations, tackle territoriality and segregation by encouraging integrated residential areas.

3.5 Sustainable Development

‘A Sustainable Development Strategy for Northern Ireland: First Steps Towards Sustainability’ was published in May 2006 . This strategy sets the principles and provides a framework for delivering economic growth, social inclusion, sustainable communities and personal well-being in ways that protect and enhance the natural environment and use resources as efficiently as possible.

The planning, design, construction and maintenance of housing provides significant opportunities to contribute towards sustainable development. Well built safe and environmentally friendly housing is fundamental to our individual and community well being. Good housing contributes to the regeneration of communities, educational attainment and access to employment. Sustainable development is at the heart of all Housing Executive Corporate Objectives and a series of performance measures have been developed to help us gauge how our activities compare with good sustainable development practice.

38 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

3.6 Housing Context

Housing Stock

Following a period of decline Belfast’s housing stock has grown consistently since the mid 1990’s and is currently 124,000 properties.

The tenure profile demonstrates a continued growth in owner occupation from 51% in 1996 to 58% in 2006. During the same period there has been a considerable increase in the size of the private rented market which now has 14.5% of the housing market. During the same period the social housing sector has decreased from 38% to 27%. This trend is confirmed by recent Housing Executive research, as illustrated in Chart 2.

Chart 2: Tenure change in Belfast 1996 – 2006 (Occupied Stock Only)

Owner Occupied Private Rented NIHE Housing Assoc.

56.9% 58.5% 50.9%

31.7%

25.2% 20.1% 14.5% 11.5% 11.5% 5.9% 6.4% 6.9%

1996 2001 2006

Source: House Condition Survey

There is evidence that in some parts of Belfast the private rented market is expanding at the expense of the owner-occupied sector.

Over the same period the vacancy rate ranged between 5% and 7%, with the highest rates in areas where tenure is predominantly private rental.

There is limited potential to increase the overall housing supply in Belfast due to the lack of available development sites. This shortage and competition for development sites has resulted in escalating land values. These factors are now determining residential density and building form. Often new developments are inappropriate, with ‘town cramming’ and ‘garden grabbing’ becoming more prevalent. Important opportunities to increase supply do exist, such as the Sirocco Works, Titanic Quarter and the Northside of the city centre. The residential use in these locations will be predominantly high density apartment blocks.

39 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Housing Conditions

The condition of Belfast’s housing stock has continued to improve due the removal of obsolete properties and ongoing investment in housing by both the Housing Executive and the private sector. The latest House Condition Survey (2006) indicates that the level of unfitness is now 5.3%. In addition, the number of homes failing to meet the Decent Homes Standard has also reduced from 36% in 2001 to 21.4% in 2006.

There are, however, remaining pockets of poor housing and environmental conditions despite significant historical investment and improvement programmes. These areas of housing market failure are often located at interface areas or where ageing, migrating and disadvantaged households are concentrated.

3.7 Private Housing Market

Following a period of relatively low activity during the 1990’s the level of construction in the private sector has rapidly expanded in the last five years, reaching a high of 1,806 new build starts at December 2007 (Chart 3).

Much of the growth in the Chart 3: Private Sector New Build in private sector can be Belfast attributed to the boom in 1,806 apartment development located in Laganside and the fringe of the city centre. 1,473

The sale of Housing Executive 1,201 stock has contributed to this expansion of the private sector 780 with a total of 8,794 sold to 750 tenants since 1996. However, there has been a noticeable drop in the annual house sales 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 completions in recent years. Source: Northern Ireland Housing Bulletin House Prices

Belfast has experienced a ‘cooling down’ in the property market in the last six months after a period of dramatic house price rises. Despite this slow down, house prices in Belfast have reached unprecedented levels. The Northern Ireland House Price Index indicates that over the last five years the average property price in Belfast has risen from £103,587 to £229,612, an increase of 122%.

Research by local estate agents and property professionals suggests that the lower end of the market, and in some areas middle end, was being driven by investors attracted by capital gains, and landlords responding to the growing demand for accommodation from migrant workers and students.

40 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

The average house price for all properties by property type for Belfast City Council area in 2006 and 2007, together with the percentage change over the year is shown in Table 2. Apartments showed the most significant price change over the twelve month period, followed by semi-detached bungalows.

Table 2: Belfast Average House Price by Property Type Property Type Price Statistics % Change 2006 (£) 2007 (£) Terraced House 176,214 198,852 12.8 Semi-Detached House 200,540 253,526 26.4 Detached House 319,084 376,442 18.0 Semi-Detached Bungalow 162,885 214,279 31.6 Detached Bungalow 292,750 366,186 25.1 Apartment 157,142 213,825 36.1 Source: University of Ulster, N.I. Quarterly House Price Index at Qtr. 4 - December 2006 & 2007

The Northern Ireland Housing Bulletin (December 2007) shows that the average price of a new private property in Belfast was £241,500. Most forecasts are predicting a downturn in the housing market during 2008, but there is little consensus on the predicted level of fall.

Private Rented Sector

The private rented sector has been rejuvenated following a long period of decline. The Housing Executive’s most recent House Condition Survey 2006 indicated that private rented properties in the city had increased from 13,000 in 2001 to over 16,500.

The main drivers of this expansion have been the investment performance of residential properties, widespread availability of ‘buy to let’ mortgages, increased demand from migrant workers and young professionals unable to buy, and increased rental return from properties converted to multiple occupation. Chart 4: Private Housing Benefit The number of households in the private rented sector in 16,525 16,056

Belfast receiving Housing 15,433 14,751

Benefit increased from 14,137 14,137 in March 2004 to 16,525 at March 2008, an increase of 14.5%. Chart 4 shows the trend. These figures include Housing Association tenants.

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Source: NIHE

41 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

The private rented sector has traditionally been concentrated around the University and City Hospital in South Belfast and the Lower Antrim Road in North Belfast. There has been a ripple expansion into West and East Belfast, some middle city neighbourhoods and outer areas. This growth has been at the expense of owner occupation and has exacerbated both ‘availability’ and ‘affordability’ in the city’s housing market. There is anecdotal evidence of increasing instability in some neighbourhoods due to both the lifestyle tensions between existing communities and the more transitory population in private rented accommodation and an inability of local people to access their local housing market.

3.8 Affordability

The rapid increase in house prices has created an acute affordability problem in Belfast. First time buyers are experiencing difficulty in accessing the owner- occupied market. Simultaneously they are faced with considerable competition from speculative investors and difficulty in affording a mortgage, often borrowing six times the household income. There are indications that first time buyers are deferring home purchase and looking to the private rented sector in the short term. In Northern Ireland, the percentage of sales to first time buyers fell from 33% in 2006 to 29% in 2007.

Affordability is more than just about house prices, the relationship between prices and local incomes also being a key factor. The affordable house price rose by £103,050 (166%) between 2001 and 2007, while median income increased by only £1,190 (9.5%).

Chart 5 below demonstrates that in Belfast between 2001 and 2007 the median income to house price ratio more than doubled from 5.0 to 12.1 and that the proportion of ‘affordable’ properties dropped dramatically from 15% to 0%.

Chart 5: Affordability in Belfast

% of affordable house sales Price to income ratio* 15

12.1

8.4

6.5 5.0

4 1 0

2001 2004 2006 2007

Source: NIHE Affordability Index * This model uses median income to measure the affordable house price (25th percentile price) to income ratio.

42 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

The Review of Affordable Housing undertaken by Sir John Semple reported in April 2007 and made a series of recommendations to improve access to affordable housing. These included how Government intervention in the planning and housing systems could increase the supply of social housing, support the private rented sector and assist those unable to afford to buy market housing. The Minister for Social Development is heading a Task Force to consider the detailed recommendations which is expected to complete an action plan in 2008.

The Northern Ireland Co-ownership Association since it inception in 1978 has assisted those on low income to access the owner occupation. A total of approximately 2,500 properties have been purchased through the scheme in Belfast.

Since 14 March 2008 Co-ownership has been unable to accept new applications as funding resources have been fully allocated. This will therefore reduce opportunities for first time buyers seeking to access affordable homes.

Public Sector House Sales

The house sales scheme still remains a good source of affordable homes for the first time buyer. In October 2004 the House Sales policy changed. To qualify, tenants now must have a minimum of 5 years’ tenancy with a social landlord. A discount ceiling of £24,000 on all dwellings was also introduced in 2004. When coupled with increased house prices, this has resulted in a noticeable drop in yearly house sale completions. Chart 6 shows the total house sales in Belfast over the past 5 years.

Chart 6: Housing Executive House Sales A total of 208 dwellings were 550 sold during the year ending 539 482 March 2008. The average 480 valuation in Belfast for the year was £90,269 in comparison with the Northern

Ireland average of £94,006. 208 The average discount was £22,098 and the average market value £185,051.

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Source: NIHE 3.9 Social Housing

Demand for social housing in Belfast over the last five years has been steadily increasing. The number of applicants on the waiting list rose from 7,431 in 2003 to 9,553 in 2007, while the number of applicants in housing stress increased from 4,343 to 5,590 over the same period. (Chart 7)

43 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Chart 7: Housing Applicants Trends

Applicants Stress Applicants Annual Allocations 9,553 8,627 8,127 7,431 7,550

5,131 5,590 4,810 4,343 4,429

1,988 2,099 2,081 2,246 2,093

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Source: Common Selection Scheme

The increase in housing stress in Belfast has been the result of a combination of factors such as:

• Funding levels in recent years have not been sufficient to meet housing need in settlements throughout Northern Ireland;

• The continued popularity of many areas in Belfast;

• The impact of affordable pressures resulting in low income households, in particular first time buyers accessing the private market, applying for social housing;

• The decrease in social housing relets. This is the result of a reduction in stock through house sales, less turnover as social housing estates have stabilised and fewer households being able to move into the private market;

• The shortfall in new social housing provision. The Housing Executive has continued to drive a Social Housing Development Programme with 4,061, new homes started since 2002. However, there has been a difficulty acquiring suitable sites for development because of high land costs and competition from private developers.

The pattern of housing need is not consistent across all areas of Belfast and there are considerable variations in demand for social housing. This is due to a combination of factors, including demographic trends, housing market failure and physical conditions. The distribution of demand is detailed in the appendices.

Over the last five years there has been a modest increase (5%) in the total allocations for Belfast, mainly due to social new build activity over this period.

44 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Chart 8: Housing Applicant Household Groups

4,676 Housing Applicants Housing Stress Allocations

2,572 2,352

1,580 1,558

971 368 341 270 799

197 691 154 108 599

Single Person Small Adult Small Family Large Family Older Person

Source: Common Selection Scheme

Chart 8 illustrates the household profile of housing applicants and those in housing stress. It also illustrates the total allocations made to applicants in the previous 12 months across the same groups for Belfast Area. Single person households dominate the waiting list, accounting for almost half of all applicants in housing stress, with small families and elderly households being the other main groups seeking housing.

Homelessness

The five year period from April 2002 to March 2007 saw a steady increase in both the numbers presenting as homeless and the number accepted. Since March 2005 the number of households both presenting as homeless and being awarded ‘full duty status’ (statutorily homeless) has risen considerably (Refer Table 3).

Table 3: Homelessness Trends March 2004 – March 2008 March March March March March 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Number Presented 4,817 4,665 5,779 5,829 5,143 Number Awarded Full Duty Status 2,379 2,343 2,885 2,710 2,627 Source: NIHE Figures are Belfast Area Totals (All Sectors plus Homeless Advice Centre)

During the year there was a significant decrease in the number of applicants presenting as homeless this reflects a Northern Ireland trend. The proportion of presenters accepted as homeless increased from 46% in 2006/07 to 51% in 2007/08. The causal factors are largely due to increased incidences of marriage, relationship / family disputes and sharing breakdown.

Approximately 50% of all households who presented in 2007/08 were single households. Families with children accounted for 33% of those presenting.

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Projected Housing Need

The overall trend in Belfast has been one of rising waiting lists with supply failing to meet this increasing demand. The annual Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) calculates a requirement of 6,182 units for Belfast, for the next five years (2008-2113). During the same period the Social Housing Development Programme records an anticipated supply of an additional 4,799 units. The programme falls short of meeting the housing need by approximately 1,457 units. Further information on programmed social housing schemes can be found in Section 5.4.

Table 4: Housing Need Assessment (HNA) Belfast Sectors 5 Year Projected City Sector Waiting List Social Housing 5 Year Shortfall at Mar 07 Housing Need Programme Stress 2007-12 2008-13

North Belfast 1,359 1,362 1,304 58

South Belfast 980 767 624 143

East Belfast 1,126 1,193 560 633

West Belfast 1,971 2,718 2,095 623

Shankill 357 142 216 -

Total 5,793 6,182 4,799 1,457

The Appendices include a profile of each sector and a comprehensive suite of housing statistics.

3.10 Main Issues

• BMAP Public Inquiry is now complete and an anticipated plan will be adopted in 2011.

• Increased household formation and smaller households are having an effect on housing demand, supply prices and density;

• The arrival of migrant workers has stimulated additional demand in the private rented sector;

• Higher energy prices are likely to adversely impact on fuel poverty;

• Housing conditions have continued to improve with unfitness at its lowest level of 5.3%, but there remains some areas where housing market failure has resulted in poor housing and environmental conditions;

46 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

• The growth of the investor led ‘buy to let’ market and rapid house price rises in the last 3 years, has created an acute ‘affordability’ issue for first time buyers;

• Whilst house price rises are slowing down, property prices remain among the highest in Northern Ireland with the average house price of £241,500 for 2007;

• The popularity of Belfast as a place to live and the inability of many households to access the owner occupied market is reflected in the continued high demand for social housing. The number of applicants on the waiting list is currently 9,553, a 28% rise since 2003. The numbers of applicants in housing stress rose from 4,343 to 5,590 in the same period;

• The supply of social housing has failed to keep pace with rising demand. The Social Housing Needs Assessment for the next five years demonstrates a shortfall of 1,457 units between projected social need and the Social Housing Development Programme;

4.0 Belfast Local Housing Strategy

This section of the District Housing Plan outlines the future housing strategy for Belfast. (The full range of plans and programmes are detailed in Section 5). The aim of the Belfast Housing Strategy is to address local housing issues identified in the Housing Market Analysis and to ensure that housing activity supports wider regeneration initiatives and the drive for sustainable communities. Its purpose is to translate the Housing Executive’s vision and Corporate Objectives into local plans and programmes for Belfast by incorporating and co-ordinating the wide range of existing housing strategies.

The six Corporate Objectives are:

• Delivering the Decent Homes Standard; • Promoting Independent Living; • Fostering Urban and Rural Regeneration; • Promoting Affordable Housing; • Building a Stronger Community; • Delivering Better Public Services.

Objective 1 – Delivering the Decent Homes Standard

A decent home is one that meets modern standards in relation to fitness, structure, energy efficiency and facilities. In Belfast we have been working for some years to bring all our homes to Decent Homes Standard. The 2006 House Condition Survey shows that the number of homes not meeting the standard has been reduced to 21% (36% in 2001) across all sectors. In Belfast this has been achieved by;

• Upgrading and improving our social housing stock;

• Reducing unfitness and improving housing conditions in the private sector through grant aid;

48 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

• Improving energy efficiency in the residential sector and helping to alleviate fuel poverty.

In the coming year we plan to:

• Target and implement an investment programme aimed at improving the quality of our existing social housing stock. During the next financial year, 2008/09, we will undertake:

• Heating replacement in 260 dwellings;

• Multi-element improvements to 54 dwellings;

• Revenue replacements (Kitchens) in 1,755 dwellings;

• Planned external maintenance work to 800 dwellings;

• Reduce unfitness and disrepair in the private sector through targeting and promoting grant aid. It is proposed that £8.56m will be invested in private housing during the next financial year;

• Work to improve the energy efficiency of our homes through the application of our Heating Policy, and deliver the Warm Homes Scheme which provides grants to vulnerable people in the private sector.

“Heatsmart” Bryson Charitable Group Multi-Agency Advice & Assistance on Energy Efficiency

49 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Objective 2 – Promoting Independent Living

Our aim is to help people live independent lives by developing services and housing solutions tailored to each person’s own circumstances. A number of existing housing strategies target vulnerable groups e.g. Homeless Strategy and Supporting People Strategy. This support to vulnerable groups is delivered through our Supporting People programme, the Belfast Area Homeless Advice Unit and our Housing Support and Adaptation Service.

Supporting People

The Supporting People programme provides housing support services enabling the most vulnerable to live independently. There are currently 224 supported housing accommodation based schemes in the Belfast area, providing a service to over 4,000 individuals from a range of client groups. In addition, there are 20 floating support providers operating in the Belfast City Council area providing a service to 1,600 clients.

Homelessness

The number of people presenting and accepted as homeless fell slightly in the last year following a period of steady increase. A Homeless Action Plan delivers a range of services aimed at tackling homelessness including prevention, provision of temporary accommodation and a range of support services. The Rough Sleepers Strategy continues to focus on improving access to temporary accommodation, providing health care as well as addiction and mental health services for rough sleepers.

Home Adaptations

To assist people with disabilities to live in their own homes and in a community environment we carry out grant aided adaptations to ensure their home is accessible. Adaptations can range from handrails and ramps to extensions, stair lifts, heating and showers.

Travellers

The Housing Executive became responsible for Traveller accommodation in 2003 and their housing needs are met in a number of ways which include ‘group housing’, serviced sites and transit sites. A five year needs assessment identified a requirement for a serviced site, and a Transit site in Belfast, and the need for a ‘group housing’ scheme of 6 units at Monagh Road. The Housing Executive is currently conducting a second Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment (2008 - 2013) with results due later in 2008.

In Belfast the Housing Executive aims to develop a better co-ordinated response to tackling homelessness, deliver housing support services for vulnerable people to help them remain in their own homes and meet the identified housing needs of Travellers.

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In the coming year we plan to:

• Continue to deliver programmes and services to support independent living in Belfast;

• Tackle homelessness and enhance the services we deliver to homeless people and those who may be facing homelessness;

• Continue to improve the quality of housing for people with disabilities;

• Continue to meet the accommodation needs of Travellers.

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Objective 3 – Fostering Urban and Rural Regeneration

Housing continues to play a pivotal role in supporting the drive for urban regeneration. Housing activity can often provide the catalyst to unlocking wider physical development and regeneration initiatives. Our aim is to address poor housing conditions and ensure that housing helps develop local sustainable communities. To achieve this, a range of methods are used to identify areas of intervention e.g. Housing Market Profiles, Urban Renewal Assessments and Sectoral Studies linking to Sectoral Strategies.

We are already supporting physical and community regeneration in Belfast through a number of activities:

• The delivery of local housing and regeneration strategies in North and West Belfast and Shankill;

• The completion of Sectoral Studies in South and East Belfast which examined how the local housing market operates. These studies identified housing issues for consultation and will lead to the development of local housing strategies which provide a framework for direct investment and intervention;

• Physical improvement through our urban renewal programme, private sector grants, estate based modernisation schemes and environmental improvements;

• Promoting tenure diversity and balanced communities through our land releases for social and private housing development;

• Working in partnership with others who are involved in neighbourhood renewal.

In the coming year we plan to:

• Continue to implement existing local housing and regeneration strategies and to develop local housing strategies for South Belfast and East Belfast;

• Progress our urban renewal programme and community based local regeneration initiatives;

• Ensure that the Housing Executive’s activities and programmes are aligned with, and contribute to, wider current and emerging regeneration programmes and initiatives, including the DSD Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy;

• Continue to monitor housing conditions in Belfast Council Area through a planned programme of Housing Market Profiles. In addition, a number of urban renewal schemes and estates strategies will be implemented, subject to approval and the availability of finance.

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Gainsborough Newbuild Social Housing Development: B.I.H. Housing Association Gainsborough Urban Renewal Area: North Belfast

These include:

• Parkside Urban Renewal Assessment, located in North Belfast and involving 102 properties;

• Queen Victoria Gardens, Urban Renewal Assessment, located in North Belfast and involving 178 properties;

• Village Urban Renewal Assessment, located in South Belfast and involving 1,300 properties;

• Lawnbrook Urban Renewal Assessment, located in Shankill and involving 250 properties;

• Upper New Lodge, located in North Belfast and involving 211 dwellings;

• Progressing estate strategies in Lower Shankill, Lower Oldpark and Tiger’s Bay.

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Objective 4 – Promoting Affordable Housing

Affordable housing includes social rented housing and intermediate (shared ownership) housing. In Belfast, the Housing Needs Assessment (HNA), supported by the Housing Market Analysis demonstrates a requirement to increase the supply of social and low cost private housing over the next five years. There is an anticipated shortfall of 1,457 social housing units between the planned Social Housing Development Programme and projected need. There are a number of ways we can assist in the delivery of affordable housing including:

• Work with the Planning Service to increase land supply through the Development Plan process;

• Delivery of the Social Housing Development Programme;

• Public sector house sales;

• Promoting opportunities for good quality private renting.

Jamaica Street Newbuild Ardoyne – North Belfast

In the coming year we plan to:

• Meet social housing need by constructing a Social Housing Development Programme based on need. We will continue to work with Housing Associations and developers, to deliver the Social Housing Development Programme in the region of 500-600 units;

• Explore the delivery of social and affordable housing. We will work with Planning Service (DOE) to redraft PPS12 –‘Housing in Settlements' to incorporate an affordable housing policy and delivery mechanism. We will provide Planning Service with annual housing need assessments for their

54 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

consideration on housing related objections submitted to the BMAP Public Inquiry and for the operation of development control Policy HS2;

• Actively seek to identify new housing sites and pursue surplus public sector lands for social / affordable housing;

• Work to bring forward new housing sites arising from our social housing and regeneration studies. The studies programme is targeted at areas which exhibit high housing stress and where it has not been possible for Housing Associations to identify or acquire suitable housing land;

• Work with our partners in developing plans for housing throughout the City;

• Explore and bring forward innovative mixed tenure and low cost home ownership schemes with Housing Associations and others in the private and community sectors;

• Maximise the contribution of the Housing Executive’s existing social housing stock and explore any potential for bringing private sector vacant stock back into use;

• Promote the private rented sector as a viable and affordable housing option in Belfast by working to improve management standards, the condition of individual properties and the neighbourhoods in which they are located;

• Continue to monitor housing market trends throughout the sectors of Belfast. (See appendices for detailed information on housing trends by sector).

At a local level social and affordable housing will continue to be delivered through the sectoral strategies.

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West Belfast Sector

Maximising housing supply within sustainable neighbourhoods is one the three main themes of the West Belfast Strategy. The development of Hannahstown/Glen Road and St Patrick’s/Glenmona sites is critical to meeting this objective.

At Hannahstown/Glen Rd the Housing Executive has been working with the major landowner and Oaklee and Fold Housing Associations to produce a master plan for all the lands. The first draft of this plan is now complete and has the potential to deliver up to 442 dwellings of accommodation including 260 social homes.

On the St Patrick’s/Glenmona site, the Housing Executive and the Trustees commissioned master plans to establish the best land uses for the site. There is now a general agreement that the St Patrick’s site should be a mixed use scheme yielding up to 700 units of social and affordable homes.

Shankill Sector

The issue of affordability continues to be a matter of concern for communities in the Shankill. A scheme for 18 new homes under construction by Habitat for Humanity in Danube Street, is supported by the Housing Executive and Co- Ownership to deliver affordable homes in the area. These properties are due for completion in Spring 2008. The Housing Executive intends to build on this productive partnership with Co-Ownership, in conjunction with Filor Housing Association, by developing a brownfield site in Glencairn as a mixed tenure scheme. This will provide approximately 25 affordable and social homes.

North Belfast Sector

The Revised North Belfast Housing Strategy 2008 – 2012 has just been completed, and details housing programmes to tackle housing need over the next five years. The review reaffirms increasing housing supply as one of the four strategy themes.

During the next financial year, we expect to be involved in the implementation plan agreed for the Girdwood, Crumlin Road Gaol master plan, as well as the City Centre North West Quarter Plan. There is an expectation that these plans will include social and affordable homes. In addition, a key site located at Great Georges Street acquired by BIH Housing Association will be developed as a mixed tenure scheme providing 120 social and 60 private homes.

East Belfast Sector

Titanic Quarter in East Belfast offers a unique opportunity to provide a mixed tenure and mixed income development as part of an overall regeneration mix. Phase 1, already under construction, will provide 485 private market dwellings. It is anticipated that housing development in phase 2 will be for approximately 2,000 dwellings. The Housing Executive is working closely

56 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

with Planning Service and there is an expectation that 15% (300 units) will provide social and affordable homes. It is anticipated construction will commence later this year.

South Belfast Sector

There is a shortage of development sites throughout South Belfast leading to strong competition between developers. It is proposed to actively seek new housing sites by carrying out a land study across the sector. This will assess the potential for housing development on surplus public sector lands and appropriate open spaces within our estates to deliver social and affordable homes. A development site in Annadale is currently being developed on a mixed tenure basis and will yield 50 social units.

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Objective 5 – Building a Stronger Community

Good housing is a cornerstone of strong, stable and sustainable communities, and housing investment and activity can often be the catalyst for programmes relating to community development, community safety and community cohesion.

The Housing Executive continues to promote community development, cohesion and safety. We have developed a range of measures to engage with people and instil confidence in their communities and promote good relations. In Belfast we have a partnership with the PSNI and Belfast City Council which addresses a number of social and community issues such as anti-social behaviour and crime.

We are already helping to stabilise and strengthen communities through these initiatives and are working in partnership with others to address a wide range of social and community issues in Belfast.

St. Louise’s College Advice /Contact Card For Young People Project Funded by N.I.H.E in Conjunction with West Belfast Housing Community Network

In the coming year we plan to:

• Work with others to promote and support good relations, including promoting two new build Shared Future Housing Schemes located at Titanic Quarter and the former Sirocco works site. (subject to consultation with local communities);

• To work with Ballynafeigh community to develop a Shared Neighbourhood agenda;

• Continue to work with the Arts Council, Belfast City Council and Castlereagh Borough Council to address the issue of flags, emblems and sectional symbols through the three year Re-Imaging Communities Programme launched in July 2006;

58 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

• Continue to assist Belfast City Council‘s Greater Belfast Mural Project to tackle the visible manifestations of sectarianism and racism, and reduce the overall number of inappropriate murals. There has been some success in obtaining local agreements for removal or replacement of several murals in South Belfast and Shankill;

• Work with others to address community safety issues in conjunction with the Belfast Community Safety Partnership including working with Belfast City Council on its pilot project to improve bonfire management and its impact on the environment. Projects being implemented include Annadale, Taughmonagh, Donegall Pass, Donegall Road and Sandy Row;

• Support community development and promote community involvement and participation in local housing management issues;

• Assist greater community cohesion by supporting ethnic minority and migrant worker households and the communities in which they live;

• Continue to determine the housing needs for incoming workers and their families and promote better access to housing.

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Objective 6 – Delivering Better Public Services

Overview

The Housing Executive as the Regional Housing Authority prides itself on delivering high quality housing services. However, we realise that improvements and new initiatives should be a continuous process. We use a number of recognised best practice tools such as Charter Mark, Investors in People, EFQM Business Excellence Model and ISO standards to improve and monitor our performance.

We carry out research into housing matters and customer service provision, which in turn can be used to inform policy. Details of the programme of work being undertaken by our research department can be found on our web site at www.nihe.gov.uk under ‘research’.

Customer Service

Good customer service is important to us and one of the measures of achievement is the national standards for excellence, Government’s Charter Mark award.

All of the District Offices and Grants Offices within Belfast have now received the Charter Mark.

Following a Cabinet Office review of the Charter Mark in 2006 the new Customer Service Excellence (CSE) standard has now been developed. The new standard was launched in March 2008.

The Housing Executive was chosen as a standard bearer. Standard bearers are some of the first organisations to be assessed against the new CSE criteria. Assessments will begin in September 2008 against the new CSE standard.

Modernising Services

The number of houses we manage has reduced through house sales and our business has changed from being a predominantly landlord focused organisation to having a more strategic role in assessing housing need, and making a significant contribution to the Government’s wider health, education, regeneration, community safety and cohesion policies.

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The way our customers do business with us has changed. More people are doing business by telephone resulting in fewer people visiting our local offices.

Customer Service Unit : Belfast Area Office Tenant Telephony Service Unit

However, our local presence is highly valued by our customers and remains an important element in the delivery of housing and regeneration services. Maintaining our local offices, while improving our customer services, has been central to the Housing Executive’s review.

In Belfast refurbishment works have commenced on new reception facilities for our customers in the Great Victoria Street office. On completion of the works all Belfast housing offices, with the exception of the Shankill office, will be relocated to this building providing a one stop shop for services. This final phase of the restructuring of our services is due to be completed in the autumn of this year.

We are currently undertaking a programme to modernise communications with our customers. Telephone numbers have been streamlined into three numbers: General Enquiries, Housing Benefit and Repairs (for Housing Executive tenants). See Appendices.

The Housing Executive has also reviewed its management structures and District Offices in Belfast have been reduced from seven to five with the amalgamation of Districts 4 and 6 and Districts 1 and 3 to create the new North and West offices respectively. The East Belfast, South Belfast and Shankill offices remain unchanged.

5.0 Strategy Funding, Programmes and Performance

This section details the performance and planned activity areas across the various core output areas delivered for the social housing sector and private sector grants in Belfast and covers areas as follows:

Funding Allocation (Actual & Projected Spend) Grants Performance Improvement & Planned Maintenance Programme Social Housing Development Programme Local Performance Review

5.1 Funding Allocation

The Housing Executive’s projected investment within Belfast Area in 2008/09 is £47.38 million. Table 5 shows how this allocation is broken down across the key activity areas and compares the figures with actual spend in the years 2006/07 and 2007/08.

Table 5: Actual Spend 2006/07 – 2007/08 and Projected Spend 2008/09 Activity Areas Actual Spend Projected Spend 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 £m £m £m Capital Improvement Work 12.72 13.27 8.96 Planned Maintenance Work 13.58 14.05 12.91 Response Maintenance 9.15 7.34 8.47 Private Sector Grants 11.49 10.03 8.56 Land & Property Acquisitions 2.42 3.26 8.48 Total 49.36 47.95 47.38 Source: NIHE

The actual start date for any scheme included within the Belfast programme is subject to the availability of finance, and estimated start dates may be subject to change. The delivery of this programme of schemes will depend on the finalisation of the Housing Executive’s budget for 2008/09.

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5.2 Grants Performance

Table 6: Analysis of Grant Activity 2007/08 Grant Type Number Value of Number Total Grant Approved Approvals Completed Paid (£k) (£k) Renovation 263 2,959 248 2,969 Disabled Facilities 261 1,519 259 1,484 Replacement - 32 0 21 Home Repair 454 1,349 420 1,261 Assistance Repair 437 367 359 368 HMO 57 1,243 70 1,515 Group Repair - - 237 2,412 Total 1,472 7,469 1,593 10,030

Table 7: Standards of Service at March 2008 Service Standard Target Actual Actual % N & W S & E % % Acknowledge receipt of preliminary 100% 100% 100% enquiry within 10 working days To issue a schedule of grant aided 90% 92% 97% work within 12 weeks of inspection To issue a formal approval within 6 months of completed 100% 98% 99% documentation To make payment within 6 weeks of 90% 93% 97% the request for inspection

Table 8: Group Repair Activity 2007/2008 Scheme/Area Dwellings Northwood Phase 3 41 Newington Phase 2 41 Beechmount Phase 4 49 York Phase 5 46 Beechmount Phase 5 45 Violet Street 15 Total 237

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5.3 Improvement and Planned Maintenance Programme 2007/2008

Schemes completed over the period April 2007 to March 2008 in Belfast are detailed in Table 9, while Table 10 shows schemes on site at 31st March 2008.

Table 9: Schemes Completed April 2007 – March 2008 Work Category Scheme Units

IMPROVEMENT Heating Installation Belfast One Offs 2006/07 49 Forthriver Road Flats 26 Rinnnalea/Lenadoon 75 White City 91 Ligoniel/Alliance 136

Multi Element Improvement Ardavon Sheltered 44 Duncairn Gardens 32 Island/Medway 15

Health and Safety Monagh B Phase 1 51 PLANNED MAINTENANCE External Cyclical Maintenance Glencolin/Glenmeen 176 Canmore/Northumberland 270 Cranbrook / Farringdon 170 Kenard / Ramoan 129 Carlisle Non-Multi’s 209 Newtownards Road 2/ Parkgate 271 Cromac/Markets Phase 1 217 Divis 1 87 Westland 135 Norglen (Turflodge) 96 Lower New Lodge 168

Revenue Replacement Falls Court/Clonard 79 Highfield Phase 3 69 Fingals 71 Wheatfield/Alliance/ Glenbryn 70 Upper Duncairn 1 99

Special Schemes Divis Tower 93 Trostan Gardens 12

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Cromac / Markets External Cyclical Maintenance Lower Ormeau, South Belfast Completed 2007/08

Table 10: Schemes started between 1st April 2007 and 31st March 2008 Work Category Scheme Units

IMPROVEMENT Multi-Element Improvement Benmore Walk 8 Creeslough 30 Parkgate 26 District 3 Rehabs 22

Improvement to acquired stock Mountcollyer/ Gainsborough 1 18

Environmental Improvement Glencolin/Glenmeen Victoria Parade

Special Schemes Trostan Gardens 12

Heating Installation White City 91 Belfast One Offs 2007/08 80 Ligoniel/Alliance 136 Upper Springfield Roomheaters 117

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Table 10: Schemes started between 1st April 2007 and 31st March 2008 (Continued) Work Category Scheme Units

PLANNED MAINTENANCE External Cyclical Maintenance Lower New Lodge 137 Falls Court/Clonard 2 102 St James/Broadway/Falls/St Kat 153 Springvale 169 Suffolk/ Doon & Lenadoon Flats 169 New Barnsley 3 85 Taughmonagh 2 131 Garnerville/Knocknagoney 299 Sunningdale 84 West Circular 191 Willowfield/Cregagh/Woodstock 126 Ainsworth/Woodvale 121 Short Strand 3 113 Imperial 170

Revenue Replacement Ardilea/New Ardoyne 50 Fairhill/Waveney Kitchens 106 Lower Ligoniel Phase 1 87 Beersbridge Road Kitchens 104 Clonard 1 (Kilmore) 90 Rinnalea/Shaws/Rosnareen 85

Highfield Kitchens Phase 4 114

Woodstock Phase 2 66

Midland/Duncairn Ph 1 86 Balkan Street/Lisvarna Street 107 Woodstock Phase 1 105 Roden Street 1 (West) 108 Highfield Kitchens Ph 5 124 Lancaster Street 31 Tudor Place 92

Special Revenue Carlisle Multi’s 384

Adaptations

Table 11: Analysis of Adaptations 2007/08 Type of Adaptation Adaptations Value of Adaptations Commenced April 2006 April 2006 to to March 2007 March 2007 (£k) Extension to Dwelling 35 553 Change of Heating 83 409 Lifts 59 247 Showers 266 1,041 Total 443 2,250

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“Pod” Prefabricated Extension Installation Welfare Adaptation, Donegall Road, South Belfast Completed 2007/08

Improvement and Planned Maintenance Programme 2008/2009 (Subject to Review)

Table 12: 2008/09 Programme by Schemes Work Category Scheme Units

IMPROVEMENT Multi Element Improvement Annadale Flats 54 Health and Safety Roden Street Underpinning 17 Environmental Improvement Hillview Court - Heating Installation Shankill Pre 1990 66 Emergency One-Offs 2008/09 60 North And East Belfast Pre 1990 28 South Belfast Pre 1990 26 West Belfast Pre 1990 57 PLANNED MAINTENANCE External Cyclical Maintenance Divis 2 193 Ballysillan Phase 2 101 Agnes/Berlin Streets 309 Jamaica/Havanna 132

Special Revenue Carlisle Multi’s Phase 1 134

Revenue Replacement Lord Street/Trillick 112 Donegall Pass Phase 3 73 Irwell/Thames/Broadway 55 Abingdon 78 Short Strand Phase 3 101 Henderson Marsden Kansas 63 Vicarage/Glenallen 80

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Table 12: 2008/09 Programme by Schemes (Continued) Work Category Scheme Units

PLANNED MAINTENANCE Revenue Replacement Dover Street Ph 3/ Brown Sq 107 Leeson Street 124 Woodstock Phase 3 35 Ashfield Court 105 New Barnsley 102 Brookfield/Butler/Elmfield 146 Ballymurphy/Springfield Orlits 159 Glenrosa 97 Ballybone Phase 1 74 Ballybone Phase 2 67 Ashmount 90 West Circular 126 Highfield Orlits 47

Table 13: 2008/09 Programme Summary Work Category Schemes Units

IMPROVEMENT Multi Element Improvement 1 54 Health and Safety 1 17 Environmental Improvement 1 - Heating Installation 5 237 PLANNED MAINTENANCE External Cyclical Maintenance 4 735 Special Revenue 1 134 Revenue Replacement 20 1,841

Summerhill Court: North Belfast Multi-Element Improvement Scheme Completed 2007/08

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5.4 Social Housing Development Programme

The following tables detail the Social Housing Development Programme Scheme activity for Belfast over the period April 2007 – March 2008 (Financial Year 2007/08). Table 14 details schemes that completed in this period, Table 15 lists the schemes that started during the above financial year.

Table 16 lists the schemes programmed to start for the period April 2008 – March 2009 (Financial Year 2008/09).

Table 14: Schemes Completed April 2007 – March 2008 No of Housing Policy Scheme Units Client Group Association Theme 3 McDonnell Street 1 Family BCHA Wst.Belfast Acq, Ph 3 6 Family BCHA Wst.Belfast 53 Abetta Parade 1 Family BCHA Urgent-Need 3 Rinnelea Grove, (Acq 3B) 1 Family BCHA Wst.Belfast 108 Moyard Parade (Acq 3A) 1 Family BCHA Wst.Belfast East Belfast Acq Ph 1 7 Family BCHA Urgent-Need East Belfast Acq Ph 1A 7 Family BCHA Urgent-Need 135 Horn Drive, (Acq 3C) 1 Family BCHA Wst.Belfast Forfar Street 23 Family BIH Wst.Belfast Talbot Street 33 Family BIH Nth.Belfast 12 Tynedale Grove 1 Family BIH Nth.Belfast 8 McDonnell Street 1 Family BIH Wst.Belfast 20 Ballymurphy Parade 1 Family BIH Wst.Belfast 145 Cavehill Rd 6 Family BIH Nth.Belfast 1-3 Thorndale Ave 6 Family BIH Nth.Belfast Malcolmson Street Ph 2 29 Family BIH Wst.Belfast Acquisitions 17 Family BIH Nth.Belfast 62/64 Glenalina Rd 3 Family Clanmil Wst.Belfast 33 Norglen Drive 1 Family Clanmil Wst.Belfast Norfolk Grove 32 Family Clanmil Wst.Belfast Whiterock Road 18 Family Clanmil Wst.Belfast Mountcollyer, Ph1 35 Family Clanmil R.D.A. North Rugby Club, Ph1 79 Family Clanmil Urgent-Need Egg Box Site, Ardoyne Road 69 Family Clanmil Nth.Belfast 10 Clifton Crescent 1 Family Clanmil Nth.Belfast 18 Bloomfield Drive 1 Family Clanmil Urgent-Need Maple Villas, Springfield Road 16 Family Clanmil Wst.Belfast

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Table 14: Schemes Completed April 2007 – March 2008 (Continued) No of Housing Policy Scheme Units Client Group Association Theme Springfield Mill, Springfield Road 9 Family Clanmil Wst.Belfast Acquisitions, Ph2A 2 Family Connswater Urgent-Need Acquisitions 1 Family Connswater Wst.Belfast 27 Newcastle St 1 Family Connswater Urgent-Need 422-424 Antrim Road, Rosemount House 20 Homeless Filor Supported Ardoyne Acquisitions, Ph6C 1 Family Flax Nth.Belfast Ardoyne Acquisitions, Ph5F 1 Family Flax Nth.Belfast Ardoyne Acquisitions, Ph6A 2 Family Flax Nth.Belfast 107 Duneden Pk & 24 Stratford Gdns 2 Family Flax Nth.Belfast Springfield Rd Ph3 64 Family Fold Wst.Belfast Castlereagh Road 79 Family Fold Urgent-Need Iris Close 4 Family Fold Wst.Belfast Westrock 14 Family Fold Wst.Belfast Ardkeen House, Marlborough Park 11 Physical-Dis Habinteg Supported 504 Antrim Road 7 Family Habinteg Nth.Belfast Hillmount Court 6 Physical-Dis Habinteg Supported 12 Rosemount Gardens 3 Family Habinteg Nth.Belfast 3 Rigby Close 1 Family Habinteg Nth.Belfast Gate Lodge, Ormeau Road 1 Family Hearth Urgent-Need Newington Acq Ph6B 2 Family Newington Nth.Belfast Newington Acq Ph7 7 Family Newington Nth.Belfast Suffolk Road, Ph2 40 Family North & West Wst.Belfast Jamaica St, Ph1 21 Family North & West Nth.Belfast 136-138 Antrim Rd 8 Family Oaklee Nth.Belfast St Gall's Site, Ph1 30 Family Oaklee Wst.Belfast Bainsmore Dr 31 Family Oaklee Urgent-Need Northumberland St 17 Family Oaklee Urgent-Need 1 Creeslough Court 1 Family Oaklee Wst.Belfast 143d Glen Road 2 Supported Oaklee Wst.Belfast 33 Danube Street 1 Family Oaklee Urgent-Need 30 Lenadoon Ave 1 Family Oaklee Wst.Belfast 83 Beechmount Grove 1 Family Oaklee Wst.Belfast 90 Creeslough Pk 1 Family Oaklee Wst.Belfast Milk Marketing Board, Antrim Rd 61 Family Oaklee Nth.Belfast 3 Mountforde Gardens 1 Family St Matthews Urgent-Need

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Table 14: Schemes Completed April 2007 – March 2008 (Continued) No of Housing Policy Scheme Units Client Group Association Theme 50 Beechfield Street 1 Family St Matthews Urgent-Need 609 Ormeau Road 29 Cat 1 Elderly Trinity Urgent-Need 42 Glenalina Park, Whiterock Rd 1 Family Ulidia Wst.Belfast 83 Connsbrook Ave 1 Family Ulidia Urgent-Need 42 Ballymurphy Rd 1 Family Ulidia Wst.Belfast Total Units 884

Mountcollyer Phase 1 Newbuild North Belfast – Clanmil H.A. Completed 2007/08

In recent years the Department for Social Development (DSD) set a target to start 1,500 social units each year. This year the starts targets have been drawn from the New Housing Agenda for Northern Ireland, announced by Minister Ritchie on 26th February 2008. This confirmed funding for a target of 1,500 social units in Year 1 (2008/09), 1,750 in Year 2 (2009/10) and 2,000 in Year 3 (2010/11).

The Housing Executive is responsible for the formulation, management and delivery of the Social Housing Development Programme. Experience has shown that although schemes are allocated a programme slot, a number will slip from their scheduled year for a variety of reasons e.g. failure to secure planning approval.

71 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

The programme is formulated by taking into account housing need, geographic area, a range of client groups and supported housing and rural housing.

Table 15: Schemes Commenced April 2007 – March 2008 No of Housing Policy Scheme Units Client Group Association Theme East Belfast Acq Ph 1 7 Family BCHA Urgent-Need East Belfast Acq Ph 1A 7 Family BCHA Urgent-Need East Belfast Acq Ph 1B 3 Family BCHA Urgent-Need Acq Ph 3 6 Family BCHA Wst.Belfast 108 Moyard Parade Acq 3A 1 Family BCHA Wst.Belfast 3 Rinnelea Grove Acq 3B 1 Family BCHA Wst.Belfast 135 Horn Drive Acq 3C 1 Family BCHA Wst.Belfast 53 Abetta Parade, Belfast (DPF) 1 Family BCHA Urgent-Need Single Homeless/ 14-20 University St 20 Singles BIH Supported Glenside, Ligoniel 32 Family BIH Nth.Belfast McAuley Street Ph 3 14 Family BIH Urgent-Need 99 Manor Street 1 Family BIH Nth.Belfast 339-343 Donegal Road 10 Family BIH Urgent-Need 2A Brookhill Ave 11 Elderly BIH Nth.Belfast 221 Holywood Road 32 Elderly/Family BIH Urgent-Need 8 McDonnell Street 1 Family BIH Wst.Belfast 20 Ballymurphy Parade 1 Family BIH Wst.Belfast 145 Cavehill Road 6 Family BIH Nth.Belfast 1-3 Thorndale Ave 6 Family BIH Nth.Belfast North Howard St 46 Family BIH Wst.Belfast Belfast Acq 17 Family BIH Nth.Belfast Springfield Mill, Springfield Road 9 Family Clanmil Wst.Belfast Maple Villas, Springfield Road 16 Family Clanmil Wst.Belfast North Phase 2B, Balfour Avenue 9 Family Clanmil Urgent-Need Lower Antrim Road, Infill 16 Family Clanmil Nth.Belfast Norfolk Road 18 Family Clanmil Wst.Belfast 18 Bloomfield Dr 1 Family Clanmil Urgent-Need 10 Clifton Crescent 1 Family Clanmil Nth.Belfast Acq Ph 2A 2 Family Connswater Urgent-Need

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Table 15: Schemes Commenced April 2007 – March 2008 (Continued) No of Housing Policy Scheme Units Client Group Association Theme Connswater Ph 3 88 Family Connswater R.D.A. Harland Walk 18 Family Connswater R.D.A. 6-10 Severn St 6 Family Connswater R.D.A. Acquisitions 1 Family Connswater Wst.Belfast Acq Ph 1A 2 Family Connswater Wst.Belfast 15 Bryson Court 1 Family Connswater Urgent-Need 27 Newcastle St 1 Family Connswater Urgent-Need 179 York Park 1 Family Filor Nth.Belfast Gate Lodge, Flax Street 9 Singles Flax Nth.Belfast Ardoyne Acq Ph6B 3 Family Flax Nth.Belfast Ardoyne Acq Ph7A 6 Family Flax Nth.Belfast Ardoyne Acq Ph7B 1 Family Flax Nth.Belfast Ardoyne Acq Ph 7C 1 Family Flax Nth.Belfast Ardoyne Acq Ph 7D 1 Family Flax Nth.Belfast 107 Duneden Pk & 24 Stratford Gdns 2 Family Flax Nth.Belfast 13 Kingston Court 1 Family Flax Nth.Belfast 162-172 Antrim Rd 16 Family Fold Nth.Belfast 293 Antrim Road 8 Family Fold Nth.Belfast 34 Cliftonville Rd 9 Family Fold Nth.Belfast 45 Cliftonville Rd 15 Family Fold Nth.Belfast Carvill Site, Annadale Embankment 50 Family Fold Urgent-Need Acq Ph 1A 2 Family Grove Nth.Belfast Acq Ph 1B 1 Family Grove Nth.Belfast 12 Rosemount Gardens 3 Family Habinteg Nth.Belfast 23 Thorndale Ave 3 Family Habinteg Nth.Belfast 8 Glandore Ave 5 Family Habinteg Nth.Belfast 3 Ribgy Close 1 Family Habinteg Nth.Belfast Lawnbrook Ave 6 Family Habinteg Shankill Acq Ph 6B 2 Family Newington Nth.Belfast Acq Ph 7 7 Family Newington Nth.Belfast Derryveagh Drive, Suffolk Road 2 Family North & West Wst.Belfast Hillview Rd/ Crumlin Rd 75 Family North & West Nth.Belfast Travellers Sites, Monagh Rd, Phase 1&2, 16 Travellers North & West Travellers 223 Whitewell Rd 12 Family North & West Nth.Belfast Glendhu 14 Family North & West Urgent-Need Jamaica Street, Phase 1A 6 Family North & West Nth.Belfast 143d Glen Road 2 Learning Dis Oaklee Supported Stanhope Site Ph 1 10 Family Oaklee Nth.Belfast 30 Lenadoon Ave 1 Family Oaklee Wst.Belfast 33 Danube Street 1 Family Oaklee Shankill

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Table 15: Schemes Commenced April 2007 – March 2008 (Continued) No of Housing Policy Scheme Units Client Group Association Theme 83 Beechmount Grove 1 Family Oaklee Wst.Belfast 90 Creeslough Pk 1 Family Oaklee Wst.Belfast 1 Creeslough Court 1 Family Oaklee Wst.Belfast Colinpark Street 3 Family Oaklee Wst.Belfast 3 Mountforde Gardens 1 Family St Matthews Urgent-Need 50 Beechfield St 1 Family St Matthews Urgent-Need Dunmisk Pk, Ph3 21 Elderly Trinity Wst.Belfast Devonshire Tradas, Phase 2 23 Family Ulidia Wst.Belfast 42 Ballymurphy Rd 1 Family Ulidia Wst.Belfast 42 Glenalina Park, Whiterock Rd 1 Family Ulidia Wst.Belfast 83 Connsbrook Ave 1 Family Ulidia Urgent-Need Westbank Home, Palmerston Road 40 Elderly Wesley Urgent-Need Total Units 800

Table 16: Schemes Programmed April 2008 – March 2009 (Subject to Review) No of Housing Policy Scheme Units Client Group Association Theme 43 Whitewell Rd 15 Family Ark Nth.Belfast Singles/ 2A Cherryville St 13 Couples BCHA Urgent-Need 1A-5 Upper Suffolk Rd 14 Family BCHA Wst.Belfast Acquired, Ph 4 9 Family BCHA Wst.Belfast Acquired, Ph 4A 1 Family BCHA Wst.Belfast Great George St 131 Family BIH Nth.Belfast Sherbrook Re- improvement 35 Elderly BIH Shankill Village Overspill, Ph 2 (Carnegie) 16 Family BIH R.D.A. Sunningdale Gardens (T) 46 Elderly/Family Clanmil Nth.Belfast 100 Cliftonville Rd 8 Family Clanmil Nth.Belfast Peter Pan Complex 184 Family Clanmil Wst.Belfast Boiler House Sites, Markets(T) 16 Family Clanmil Urgent-Need 36a-38 Park Ave 20 Family Connswater Urgent-Need 14 Lisvarna Place 1 Family Connswater Wst.Belfast Tudor Phase 4 (T) 11 Family Filor R.D.A. Ballybone Oldpark (T) 15 Family Flax R.D.A. Acquisitions Ph 7E 2 Family Flax Nth.Belfast Finniston Primary School (Torrens 3A) 109 Family Fold Nth.Belfast

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Table 16: Schemes Programmed April 2008 – March 2009 (Continued) No of Housing Policy Scheme Units Client Group Association Theme Roden St Ph 2 (T) 40 Family Fold R.D.A. Ivan Street 10 Family Grove Nth.Belfast Acq Ph 1C 2 Family Grove Nth.Belfast 1 St Aubyn St (DPF) 1 Family Grove Nth.Belfast St Patrick's PS, Nth Queen Street (T) 22 Family Habinteg Nth.Belfast 98-99 Whitewell Rd 8 Family Habinteg Nth.Belfast 22 Templemore St 1 Family Habinteg Urgent-Need 26-30 Cliftonville Rd 6 Family Hearth Nth.Belfast 53-59 Camden St 10 Family Hearth Urgent-Need Holy Cross House 13 Elderly Hearth Nth.Belfast McMaster Street, Phase 1 (T) 6 Family Hearth Urgent-Need 124-126 Antrim Rd 6 Family Newington Nth.Belfast Acq Phase 8 10 Family Newington Nth.Belfast Jamaica St Phase 2B (T) 19 Family North & West R.D.A. St Gall's Site, Phase 2 (T) 8 Family Oaklee Wst.Belfast Shiels Street 6 Family Oaklee Wst.Belfast St Theresa’s Site, Glen Road 39 Family Oaklee Wst.Belfast Bryson Street 21 Elderly/Family St Matthews Urgent-Need Pottingers Quay 26 Family St Matthews Urgent-Need 2A Beechfield St 8 Elderly St Matthews Urgent-Need Ladas Way 16 Family Trinity Urgent-Need Finaghy Road Sth 12 Family Trinity Urgent-Need Dunmisk Pk Ph 2 27 Elderly Trinity Wst.Belfast 70 Sunnyside St 12 Family Trinity Urgent-Need 74 Cedar Avenue 9 Family Ulidia Nth.Belfast Charter Youth Club, Sandy Row (T) 3 Family Ulidia Nth.Belfast Ballygomartin Road 35 Family W'vale & Shankill Shankill Blackmountain Bungalows, Ph. 2 Physically (T) 2 Dis. W'vale & Shankill Supported West Woodvale Infill 3 Family W'vale & Shankill Shankill 64 Ohio Street (DPF) 3 Family W'vale & Shankill Shankill Total Units 1030

75 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

5.5 Local Performance Review

With the ongoing implementation of the NIHE’s “Modernising Services” programme, Belfast Area has introduced a Specialist Accounts Management Unit and Specialist Housing Benefit Team which operate in conjunction with our Housing Management District offices for North, South, East, West and Shankill sectors of the city. The performance of core functions of these offices is detailed in the following tables.

Belfast Accounts Unit Management Activities 2007/08

Activity Belfast Belfast Target Actual

Arrears Rent and rates debt outstanding (£000’s) 4,952 4,738 Current Tenants N/A 3,400 Past Tenants N/A 1,338 Total 4,952 4,738

Belfast Housing Benefit Teams Management Activities 2007/08

Activity Belfast Belfast Target Actual

Public Sector Housing Benefit Clear new claims 30 Days 25.8 Days Clear change of circumstances 10 Days 8.3 Days

Private Sector Housing Benefit Clear new claims 30 Days 21.9 Days Clear change of circumstances 10 Days 7.2 Days

76 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

North Belfast District Office Management Activities 2007/08

Activity District District Target Actual

Housing Applications % completed within 20 days 90% 99%

Homelessness Applications % processed within 33 days 95% 98%

Allocations % of lettable dwellings relet within 2 weeks 95% 57%

Empty Dwellings Actionable Voids 2% 4%

Response Maintenance % completed within response time Emergency Repairs – completion within 24 95% 99% hours Urgent Repairs – completion within 4 days 95% 97% Routine Repairs – completion within 4 weeks 95% 97% Change of Tenancy Repairs – completion 90% 93% within 3-6 weeks

South Belfast District Office Management Activities 2007/08

Activity District District Target Actual

Housing Applications % completed within 20 days 90% 93%

Homelessness Applications % processed within 33 days 95% 99%

Allocations % of lettable dwellings relet within 2 weeks 95% 88%

Empty Dwellings Actionable Voids 2% 1%

Response Maintenance % completed within response time Emergency Repairs – completion within 24 95% 98% hours Urgent Repairs – completion within 4 days 95% 99% Routine Repairs – completion within 4 weeks 95% 98% Change of Tenancy Repairs – completion 90% 100% within 3-6 weeks

77 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

East Belfast District Office Management Activities 2007/08

Activity District District Target Actual

Housing Applications % completed within 20 days 90% 95%

Homelessness Applications % processed within 33 days 95% 99%

Allocations % of lettable dwellings relet within 2 weeks 95% 100%

Empty Dwellings Actionable Voids 2% 1%

Response Maintenance % completed within response time Emergency Repairs – completion within 24 95% 99% hours Urgent Repairs – completion within 4 days 95% 97% Routine Repairs – completion within 4 weeks 95% 89% Change of Tenancy Repairs – completion 90% 96% within 3-6 weeks

West Belfast District Office Management Activities 2007/08

Activity District District Target Actual

Housing Applications % completed within 20 days 90% 95%

Homelessness Applications % processed within 33 days 95% 99%

Allocations % of lettable dwellings relet within 2 weeks 95% 100%

Empty Dwellings Actionable Voids 2% 1%

Response Maintenance % completed within response time Emergency Repairs – completion within 24 95% 93% hours Urgent Repairs – completion within 4 days 95% 80% Routine Repairs – completion within 4 weeks 95% 74% Change of Tenancy Repairs – completion 90% 81% within 3-6 weeks

78 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Shankill District Office Management Activities 2007/08

Activity District District Target Actual

Housing Applications % completed within 20 days 90% 94%

Homelessness Applications % processed within 33 days 95% 95%

Allocations % of lettable dwellings relet within 2 weeks 95% 100%

Empty Dwellings Actionable Voids 2% 2%

Response Maintenance % completed within response time Emergency Repairs – completion within 24 95% 99% hours Urgent Repairs – completion within 4 days 95% 97% Routine Repairs – completion within 4 weeks 95% 93% Change of Tenancy Repairs – completion 90% 96% within 3-6 weeks

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Appendices

Taughmonagh Estate:Field of Hope Project in conjunction with NIHE South Belfast Grounds Maintenance, Taughmonagh Residents Association, Local Primary Schools & Marie Currie Cancer Care Upper Malone Road, South Belfast

81 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Appendix 1: North Belfast Sector Profile

The North Belfast sector boundary extends from Whitewell in the north to the city centre in the south, Ligoniel/Crumlin Road in the west and to the Shore Road in the east.

• Total demand for social housing has increased since December 2003 by 34%;

• Housing stress by religion has remained fairly constant with 80% from perceived Catholic areas and 20% from Protestant areas;

• Catholic communities are characterised by higher waiting lists and longer waiting times for housing;

• Protestant communities show a modest increase in housing stress. To date this demand has been largely met by allocations;

• The North Belfast Strategy was launched in 2000 and at March 2008 has delivered a total of 1,545 additional units.

Egg Box Factory Site: Newbuild Ardoyne – Clanmil H.A.

82 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Location Map: North Belfast - Common Landlord Areas

83 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

North Belfast Sector

Social Housing Waiting List Analysis

Housing Applicants (Dec 2003 – 2007) Applicant Household Groups (Dec 2008)

Applicants 1,207 2,452 Applicants HS Applicants HS Applicants 2,055 2,164 1,827 1,943 651 637 1,401

1,302 422

1,191 151 342

1,079 101

993 74 49 219

Single Adult Small Large Older 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Persons Family Family Persons

Social Housing Allocations Analysis (December 2003 – 2007)

Allocations to Applicants Allocation Household Groups

322 2003 2007 258

709 224 174

607 606 604 605 81 25 71 67 51 41

Single Adult Small Large Older 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Per s ons Family Family Persons

NIHE Housing Stock Analysis (March 2004 – March 2008)

Occupied & Available for Letting Profile by Property Type (March 2008)

Available 4,235 3,991 Sold

7,073 6,813 6,421 6,277 1,476

6,306 486 205 80 50 37

Bungalow Flat House S.Level 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 M'onett

84 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Housing Executive Stock (March 2008)

Sold Stock in Bold Text Bung Flat House Mais Cottage Total Void* S/Level North Belfast Sector Common Landlord Areas Alliance 33 0 60 0 0 93 0 0 0 26 0 0 26 Ardoyne 37 25 553 0 0 615 11 2 8 511 1 0 522 Ballysillan 0 10 388 25 0 423 20 0 0 282 8 0 290 Carlisle/New Lodge 9 186 552 28 0 775 34 1 32 489 26 0 548 Cavehill 0 66 35 0 0 101 3 0 32 90 0 0 122 Cliftondene 7 0 45 0 0 52 2 1 0 102 0 0 103 Cliftonville 8 10 143 1 0 162 14 8 16 196 0 0 220 Duncairn Gardens 0 63 0 0 0 63 25 0 2 0 0 0 2 Fairhill 13 36 135 0 0 184 3 0 12 268 0 0 280 Gainsborough 7 73 127 14 0 221 31 0 22 124 9 0 155 Glandore & Dunmore 0 0 18 0 0 18 0 0 0 60 0 0 60 Grove Area 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lwr.Ligoniel/Glenbank 13 9 122 0 0 144 2 3 1 70 0 0 74 Lower Oldpark 54 4 222 0 0 280 39 1 18 51 0 0 70 M/S Flats-Carlisle 0 354 0 0 0 354 14 0 2 0 0 0 2 Mt.Vernon Estate 0 22 100 0 0 122 1 0 0 96 0 0 96 Newington/Limestone 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Oldpark 64 20 285 1 0 370 4 5 6 171 0 0 182 Rosewood/Crumlin 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 Ross Hse./ Mt.Vernon 0 136 0 0 0 136 13 0 1 0 0 0 1

85 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Housing Executive Stock (March 2008) (Continued)

Sold Stock in Bold Text Bung Flat House Mais Cottage Total Void* S/Level North Belfast Sector Common Landlord Areas Shore Road 30 96 124 0 0 250 6 1 3 198 0 0 202 Skegoniel 0 114 76 0 0 190 2 0 14 89 0 0 103 Somerton Road 2 42 0 0 0 44 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sunningdale 0 28 45 11 0 84 2 1 11 185 2 0 199 Torrens 0 0 11 0 0 11 0 0 0 19 0 0 19 Unity Flats / Carrick 0 14 82 0 0 96 0 Hill 0 3 30 0 0 33 Uppr. & Lwr. 82 50 415 0 0 547 57 Duncairn 0 5 365 4 0 374 Upper Ligoniel 79 11 246 0 0 336 5 6 1 127 0 0 134 Westland 0 0 130 0 0 130 3 0 0 75 0 0 75 Wheatfield 0 35 113 0 0 148 2 0 1 115 0 0 116 White City 42 25 117 0 0 184 3 5 3 43 0 0 51 Whitewell 6 47 88 0 0 141 9 3 12 206 0 0 221 Totals 486 1,476 4,235 80 0 6,277 305 37 205 3,991 50 0 4,283 *Of the Total Stock these properties are void and do not include properties for sale or demolition

Land and Property Department (2007/2008)

Activity Applications Offers Made Sales Completed Received

House Sales 249 281 52

86 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Household Composition of Housing Applicants (December 2007)

Settlement Type Single Small Small Large Large Older Total Person Adult Family Adult Family Person North Belfast Sector Common Landlord Areas Alliance Applicant 10 1 401 0 16 App (HS) 7 0 200 0 9 Alloc App 1 0 301 1 6 Ardoyne Applicant 136 8 83 0 6 21 254 App (HS) 79 5 66 0 3 16 169 Alloc App 8 0 36 2 13 2 61 Ballysillan Applicant 69 12 26 1 5 19 132 App (HS) 28 4 13 0 1 14 60 Alloc App 7 1 17 0 5 0 30 Carlisle/ Applicant 156 6 71 3 3 19 258 New Lodge App (HS) 76 3 47 3 2 14 145 Alloc App 27 6 15 1 2 6 57 Cavehill Applicant 164 17 85 4 21 46 337 App (HS) 90 6 56 4 13 26 195 Alloc App 21 2 18 1 5 7 54 Cliftondene Applicant 4 0 201 0 7 App (HS) 3 0 200 0 5 Alloc App 0 0 200 1 3 Cliftonville Applicant 122 10 70 4 14 37 257 App (HS) 71 5 42 2 8 27 155 Alloc App 22 2 516 10 46 Duncairn Applicant 26 2 10 1 1 2 42 Gardens App (HS) 15 2 501 1 24 Alloc App 3 1 300 2 9 Fairhill Applicant 18 5 13 1 3 4 44 App (HS) 7 3 711 0 19 Alloc App 2 0 200 0 4 G‘borough. Applicant 25 4 22 1 5 15 72 App (HS) 9 2 12 0 2 5 30 Alloc App 9 2 802 4 25 Glandore& Applicant 6 2 310 0 12 Dunmore App (HS) 3 1 110 0 6 Alloc App 0 0 000 0 0 Grove Area Applicant 15 5 12 1 3 16 52 App (HS) 9 3 600 13 31 Alloc App 4 1 503 2 15 Lwr.Ligoniel Applicant 24 3 501 9 42 /Glenbank App (HS) 12 1 201 8 24 Alloc App 4 0 201 6 13

87 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Household Composition of Housing Applicants (December 2007) (Continued)

Settlement Type Single Small Small Large Large Older Total Person Adult Family Adult Family Person North Belfast Sector Common Landlord Areas Lwr.Oldpark Applicant 16 2 301 2 24 App (HS) 7 1 201 1 12 Alloc App 10 3 10 2 0 0 25 M/S Flats - Applicant 29 4 200 1 36 Carlisle App (HS) 20 1 000 0 21 Alloc App 25 1 400 1 31 Mt.Vernon Applicant 9 1 611 5 23 Estate App (HS) 5 0 410 4 14 Alloc App 4 0 300 3 10 Newington/ Applicant 8 1 603 8 26 Limestone App (HS) 4 0 501 7 17 Alloc App 4 1 002 0 7 Oldpark Applicant 54 1 42 0 4 7 108 App (HS) 33 1 30 0 3 3 70 Alloc App 6 2 703 0 18 Rosewood/ Applicant 1 0 000 0 1 Crumlin App (HS) 0 0 000 0 0 RDA Alloc App 0 0 000 0 0 Ross Hse./ Applicant 10 0 000 2 12 Mt.Vernon App (HS) 2 0 000 0 2 Flats Alloc App 14 1 000 1 16 Shore Road Applicant 44 6 12 3 1 8 74 App (HS) 26 3 410 5 39 Alloc App 13 0 300 2 18 Skegoniel Applicant 42 9 26 1 4 30 112 App (HS) 19 2 13 0 1 19 54 Alloc App 11 1 201 7 22 Somerton Applicant 11 1 200 42 56 (Sheltered) App (HS) 3 1 100 27 32 Alloc App 2 1 000 18 21 Sunning- Applicant 12 0 14 1 4 5 36 dale App (HS) 5 0 802 2 17 Alloc App 0 0 200 0 2 Torrens Applicant 16 2 36 1 2 6 63 App (HS) 10 1 27 1 2 5 46 Alloc App 0 0 200 0 2 Unity Flats Applicant 20 4 12 0 1 7 44 App (HS) 13 2 10 0 1 4 30 Alloc App 2 1 300 1 7

88 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Household Composition of Housing Applicants (December 2007) (Continued)

Type Single Small Small Large Large Older Total Person Adult Family Adult Family Person North Belfast Sector Common Landlord Areas Uppr.& Lwr. Applicant 30 1 905 4 49 Duncairn App (HS) 10 0 402 4 20 Alloc App 27 2 801 3 41 Upper Applicant 52 9 33 0 2 4 100 Ligoniel App (HS) 33 8 24 0 1 3 69 Alloc App 5 2 613 2 19 Westland Applicant 9 2 100 2 14 App (HS) 3 0 100 0 4 Alloc App 7 0 600 0 13 Wheatfield Applicant 18 0 502 4 29 App (HS) 9 0 300 3 15 Alloc App 5 2 001 1 9 Whitewell Applicant 41 7 32 1 6 16 103 App (HS) 22 4 24 0 3 8 61 Alloc App 5 0 102 1 9 Whitecity Applicant 10 1 401 1 17 App (HS) 4 1 100 0 6 Alloc App 10 1 100 0 12 Total Applicant 1,207 126 651 25 101 342 2,452 Total App (HS) 637 60 422 14 49 219 1,401 Total Alloc App 258 33 174 8 51 81 605 Applicant – Housing Applicants at December 2007 App (HS) – Housing Stress Applicants at December 2007 Alloc App – Annual Allocations for year ending December 2007

89 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Homeless Information (March 2008)

Homelessness Trends March 2004 – March 2008

March March March March March 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Number Presented 1,326 1,234 1,509 1,464 1,341 Number Awarded Full Duty Status 697 691 790 675 800

Household Structure of Homeless Applicants Year to March 2008

Household Structure Number % Awarded % Presented Full Duty Status Single Person 650 48.47 309 38.63 Small Adult 41 3.06 24 3.00 Small Family 378 28.19 255 31.88 Large Family 77 5.74 50 6.25 Large Adult 11 0.82 4 0.50 Older Person 184 13.72 158 19.75 Total 1,341 800

Households Placed in Temporary Accommodation Year to March 2008

Private NIHE Voluntary Total Sector Single Persons & Couples 64 7 61 132 Other Households 43 29 100 172 Total 107 36 161 304

90 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Appendix 2: South Belfast Sector Profile

The South Belfast Sector extends from the city centre in the north to Castlereagh Borough Council in the south and from West Link/Boucher Road in the west to the Ravenhill Road in the east.

• The past two years (2005 – 2007) saw a sharp rise of 11% in waiting list applicants considered to be in housing stress;

• A high level of demand is not consistent throughout the sector, but high demand continues to outstrip supply in the Markets, Ormeau, Ballynafeigh, University area, Lisburn Road, Malone, Stranmillis and Finaghy areas;

• Single households comprise the largest group on the waiting list representing 56% of total housing stress;

• The private rented sector largely caters for the singles housing market;

• Due to the popularity of South Belfast, there is a concentration of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) housing singles, students and migrant workers living in the University area;

• The Housing Executive will be implementing a South Belfast Strategy which will run for approximately seven years.

Artists Impression of Roden Street Phase 2 Development Donegall Road – South Belfast

91 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Location Map: South Belfast - Common Landlord Areas

92 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

South Belfast Sector

Social Housing Waiting List Analysis

Housing Applicants (Dec 2003 – 2007) Applicant Household Groups (Dec 2008) 1,210 Applicants A Group Applicants HS A Stress 2,128 1,958 1,733 1,811

1,726 648 393 162 1,100 1,146 153 1,003 1,029 298

982 71 223 74 42

Single Adult Small Large Older 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Persons Family Family Persons

Social Housing Allocations Analysis (Dec 2003 – 2007)

Allocations to Applicants Allocation Household Groups

183 2003

154 2007

413 114 398 407 411 369 94 79 73 27 15 16 7

Single Adult Small Large Older 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Persons Family Family Per s ons

NIHE Housing Stock Analysis (March 2004 – 2008)

Occupied & Available for Letting Profile by Property Type (March 2008) 2,684 Available 2,653 Sold 401 4,318 948 4,180 320 4,051 4,029 3,986 34 32 20

Bungalow Flat House S.Level 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 M'onett

93 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Housing Executive Stock (March 2008)

Sold Stock in Bold Text Bung Flat House Mais Cottage Total Void* S/Level South Belfast Sector Common Landlord Areas Annadale 19 148 19 2 0 188 8 2 68 63 1 0 134 Cromac 0 108 207 5 0 320 2 0 35 204 4 0 243 Donegall Pass 25 67 257 0 0 349 1 0 16 140 0 0 156 Donegall Road 34 47 623 0 0 704 9 3 25 489 0 0 517 Finaghy 47 162 150 27 0 386 19 1 140 433 15 0 589 Flush Park 0 54 39 0 0 93 2 0 17 146 0 0 163 Lower Ormeau 4 4 192 0 0 200 15 0 4 164 0 0 168 Rosebery 38 80 442 0 0 560 5 4 6 286 0 0 296 Sandy Row 8 177 319 0 0 504 9 1 31 178 0 0 210 Stranmillis 0 0 15 0 0 15 1 0 0 46 0 0 46 Taughmonagh 145 47 195 0 0 387 3 20 11 183 0 0 214 Ulsterville 0 48 125 0 0 173 6 1 42 169 0 0 212 Upper Ormeau 0 6 101 0 0 107 4 0 6 152 0 0 158 Totals 320 948 2,684 34 0 3,986 84 32 401 2,653 20 0 3,106 *Of the Total Stock these properties are void and do not include properties for sale or demolition

Land and Property Department (2007/2008)

Activity Applications Offers Made Sales Completed Received

House Sales 97 135 36

94 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Household Composition of Housing Applicants (December 2007)

Settlement Type Single Small Small Large Large Older Total Person Adult Family Adult Family Person South Belfast Sector Common Landlord Areas Annadale Applicant 69 7 13 2 1 9 101 App (HS) 39 4 511 2 52 Alloc App 3 1 600 6 16 Cromac Applicant 62 4 21 1 4 5 97 App (HS) 41 3 18 1 3 4 70 Alloc App 12 0 300 5 20 Donegall Applicant 64 6 711 5 84 Pass App (HS) 37 4 410 2 48 Alloc App 10 1 10 1 0 0 22 Donegall Applicant 140 13 31 3 2 33 222 Road App (HS) 69 6 12 2 1 21 111 Alloc App 43 2 14 0 3 5 67 Finaghy Applicant 72 20 47 2 6 32 179 App (HS) 38 10 25 1 4 22 100 Alloc App 8 1 300 1 13 Flush Park Applicant 9 1 803 30 51 App (HS) 6 1 402 20 33 Alloc App 0 0 200 2 4 Lower Applicant 136 22 57 3 8 12 238 Ormeau App (HS) 90 14 43 2 6 8 163 Alloc App 7 0 10 0 1 2 20 Rosebery Applicant 133 13 61 3 11 43 264 App (HS) 68 5 32 1 4 23 133 Alloc App 24 3 40 2 2 12 83 Sandy Row Applicant 41 4 604 7 62 App (HS) 25 1 002 3 31 Alloc App 11 2 10 0 1 4 28 Stranmillis Applicant 12 1 800 2 23 App (HS) 8 0 500 1 14 Alloc App 0 0 000 0 0 T’monagh Applicant 42 6 13 0 3 4 68 App (HS) 30 3 803 2 46 Alloc App 7 1 900 6 23 Ulsterville Applicant 305 23 39 0 8 57 432 App (HS) 118 4 18 0 3 26 169 Alloc App 15 1 300 12 31 Upper Applicant 125 15 82 3 23 59 307 Ormeau App (HS) 79 5 49 2 13 28 176 Alloc App 14 1 400 23 42 Total Applicant 1,210 135 393 18 74 298 2,128 Total App (HS) 648 60 223 11 42 162 1,146 Total Alloc App 154 13 114 3 7 78 369 Applicant – Housing Applicants at December 2007 App (HS) – Housing Stress Applicants at December 2007 Alloc App – Annual Allocations for year ending December 2007

95 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Homeless Information (March 2008)

Homelessness Trends March 2004 – March 2008

March March March March March 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Number Presented 745 558 810 935 767 Number Awarded Full 422 363 512 505 413 Duty Status

Household Structure of Homeless Applicants Year to March 2008

Household Structure Number % Awarded % Presented Full Duty Status Single Person 444 57.89 167 40.44 Small Adult 38 4.95 16 3.67 Small Family 158 20.60 112 27.12 Large Family 24 3.13 13 3.15 Large Adult 4 0.52 5 1.21 Older Person 99 12.91 100 24.21 Total 767 413

Households Placed in Temporary Accommodation Year to March 2008

Private NIHE Voluntary Total Sector Single Persons & Couples 79 4 37 120 Other Households 16 13 36 65 Total 95 17 73 185

96 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Appendix 3: East Belfast Sector Profile

The East Belfast sector boundary is defined by the River Lagan and Ravenhill Road to the east, extending to Holywood in the north and Castlereagh to the west and south.

• Demand for social housing is high in East Belfast;

• Since March 2005 applicants in housing stress have increased by 26%;

• Due to house sales Housing Executive stock has reduced from 4,256 in March 2003 to 3,487 in March 2008;

• New build allocations and relets are failing to meet rising demand in East Belfast;

• There is an on-going programme of regeneration in the Connswater area (Inner East Belfast);

• A Sectoral Study for Greater East Belfast has been completed which will form the basis of a seven year strategy.

Artists Impression of Madrid St./Thistle Court Re-Design Ballymacarrett, East Belfast Due to Complete Late Summer 2008

97 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Location Map: East Belfast - Common Landlord Areas

98 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

East Belfast Sector

Social Housing Waiting List Analysis

Housing Applicants (Dec 2003 – 2007) Applicant Household Groups (Dec 2007)

Applicants 799 A Group Applicants HS 1,918 A Stress

1,636

1,526 1,548 475 436

1,411 424 149 1,072 295 241

915 71 850 68 799 743 32

Single Adult Small Large Older 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Persons Family Family Persons

Social Housing Allocations Analysis (December 2003 – 2007)

Allocations to Applicants Allocation Household Groups

144 2003 123 118 2007

430 99 83 78 376 370 356 353 35 13 13 23

Single Adult Small Large Older 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Per s ons Family Family Persons

NIHE Housing Stock Analysis – (March 2004 – 2008)

Occupied & Available for Letting Profile by Property Type (March 2008) 2,300 Available 2,230 Sold

3,908 3,764 951

3,487 253 3,504 3,532 215 53 25 18

Bungalow Flat House S.Level 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 M'onett

99 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Housing Executive Stock (March 2008)

Sold Stock in Bold Text Bung Flat House Mais Cottage Total Void* S/Level East Belfast Sector Common Landlord Areas Albertbridge Road 16 109 333 8 0 466 15 0 8 139 2 0 149 Ardcarn 0 95 53 0 0 148 1 0 26 95 0 2 123 Ashfield 21 0 69 0 0 90 0 3 0 60 0 0 63 Ballyhackamore 0 9 15 0 0 24 2 1 5 22 0 0 28 Bloomfield/Raven 0 16 106 0 0 122 1 0 2 114 0 0 116 Bridge End 0 22 8 0 0 30 0 0 18 8 0 0 26 Cherryvalley 0 0 18 0 0 18 0 0 0 47 0 0 47 Clarawood 27 149 94 33 0 303 1 2 18 253 1 0 274 Dundela 0 26 2 0 0 28 0 0 4 6 0 0 10 Edenvale 4 22 13 0 0 39 0 0 5 57 0 0 62 Garnerville 27 27 108 0 0 162 1 2 1 61 0 0 64 Inverary 45 26 78 0 0 149 0 1 2 74 0 0 77 Knocknagoney 1 2 98 2 0 103 0 0 0 164 4 0 168 Lwr.Beersbridge 9 68 178 0 0 255 2 1 16 129 0 0 146 Newtownards Road 49 262 586 2 0 899 62 3 46 296 1 0 346 Orchard Park 11 0 17 0 0 28 0 0 0 17 0 0 17 Short Strand 31 110 183 0 0 324 2 5 58 248 0 0 311 Summerhill 4 0 35 0 0 39 0 0 0 81 0 0 81 Sydenham 0 6 125 0 0 131 2 0 0 148 0 0 148

100 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Housing Executive Stock (March 2008) (Continued)

Sold Stock in Bold Text Bung Flat House Mais Cottage Total Void* S/Level East Belfast Sector Common Landlord Areas Wandsworth 4 0 45 0 0 49 0 0 0 173 0 0 173 Willowfield 4 2 66 8 0 80 1 0 6 108 17 0 131 Totals 253 951 2,230 53 0 3,487 90 18 215 2,300 25 2 2,560 *Of the Total Stock these properties are void and do not include properties for sale or demolition

Land and Property Department (2007/2008)

Activity Applications Offers Made Sales Completed Received

House Sales 78 114 23

101 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Household Composition of Housing Applicants (December 2007)

Settlement Type Single Small Small Large Large Older Total Person Adult Family Adult Family Person East Belfast Sector Common Landlord Areas Bridge End Applicant 5 0 000 0 5 App (HS) 2 0 000 0 2 Alloc App 2 0 100 0 3 Albertbridge Applicant 62 9 26 0 2 7 106 Road App (HS) 42 5 14 0 0 2 63 Alloc App 15 1 12 0 5 0 33 Ardcarn Applicant 31 8 711 6 54 App (HS) 14 3 311 4 26 Alloc App 9 0 200 0 11 Ashfield Applicant 4 1 401 4 14 App (HS) 2 0 100 4 7 Alloc App 0 0 000 0 0 Ballyhack Applicant 19 5 11 0 1 74 110 App (HS) 9 1 601 37 54 Alloc App 2 0 000 4 6 Bloomfield Applicant 106 16 59 4 14 36 235 App (HS) 56 7 25 2 6 19 115 Alloc App 7 0 701 7 22 C’valley Applicant 0 0 000 1 1 App (HS) 0 0 000 0 0 Alloc App 0 0 000 0 0 Clarawood Applicant 58 2 18 2 4 6 90 App (HS) 27 1 11 1 3 4 47 Alloc App 7 0 601 3 17 Dundela Applicant 19 2 804 9 42 App (HS) 7 1 702 4 21 Alloc App 6 0 11 0 1 3 21 Edenvale Applicant 11 4 710 9 32 App (HS) 7 0 500 5 17 Alloc App 3 0 000 0 3 Garnerville Applicant 11 4 802 1 26 App (HS) 6 2 401 1 14 Alloc App 3 0 200 2 7 Inverary Applicant 15 4 912 17 48 App (HS) 9 3 510 12 30 Alloc App 1 0 001 3 5 K’nagoney Applicant 10 5 703 11 36 App (HS) 4 1 501 5 16 Alloc App 1 0 102 8 12

102 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Household Composition of Housing Applicants (December 2007) (Continued)

Type Single Small Small Large Large Older Total Person Adult Family Adult Family Person East Belfast Sector Common Landlord Areas Lower. Applicant 58 9 36 3 9 16 131 Beersbridge App (HS) 32 7 22 1 6 15 83 Alloc App 13 0 14 1 11 2 41 N’ards Applicant 191 17 77 5 9 49 348 Road App (HS) 113 6 38 3 3 31 194 Alloc App 18 4 33 1 5 13 74 Orchard Applicant 0 0 000 0 0 Park App (HS) 0 0 000 0 0 Alloc App 0 0 000 1 1 Short Applicant 37 3 31 0 1 9 81 Strand App (HS) 18 2 26 0 1 6 53 Alloc App 2 0 600 1 9 Summerhill Applicant 1 1 100 4 7 App (HS) 0 0 100 3 4 Alloc App 0 0 000 0 0 Sydenham Applicant 74 11 54 2 8 43 192 App (HS) 40 4 32 1 4 24 105 Alloc App 3 0 700 13 23 W’worth Applicant 2 1 703 17 30 App (HS) 1 1 402 13 21 Alloc App 0 0 001 2 3 Willowfield Applicant 85 19 54 9 7 156 330 App (HS) 47 9 32 5 1 106 200 Alloc App 7 4 21 2 7 21 62 Total Applicant 799 121 424 28 71 475 1,918 Total App (HS) 436 53 241 15 32 295 1,072 Total Alloc App 99 9 123 4 35 83 353 Applicant – Housing Applicants at December 2007 App (HS) – Housing Stress Applicants at December 2007 Alloc App – Annual Allocations for year ending December 2007

103 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Homeless Information (March 2008)

Homelessness Trends March 2004 – March 2008

March March March March March 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Number Presented 687 700 869 922 862 Number Awarded Full Duty Status 314 344 430 432 380

Household Structure of Homeless Applicants Year to March 2008

Household Structure Number % Awarded % Presented Full Duty Status Single Person 378 43.85 95 25.00 Small Adult 42 4.87 19 5.00 Small Family 241 27.96 136 35.79 Large Family 48 5.57 15 3.95 Large Adult 10 1.16 6 1.58 Older Person 143 16.59 109 28.68 Total 862 380

Households Placed in Temporary Accommodation Year to March 2008

Private NIHE Voluntary Total Sector Single Persons & Couples 27 1 21 49 Other Households 8 24 20 52 Total 35 25 41 101

104 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Appendix 4: West Belfast Sector Profile

The West Belfast sector extends from the Falls/Shankill peaceline in the north to Poleglass/Twinbrook in the south and from the Belfast hills in the west to Hamill Street in the city centre.

• The social housing market in West Belfast has traditionally been characterised by very high demand;

• West Belfast demand shows a particular need for general family and singles accommodation;

• Housing supply through relets is failing to meet demand in West Belfast;

• The Greater West Belfast Strategy is divided into three sectors, with West Belfast making up two sectors (middle and inner), and the outer sector falling within Lisburn District Council;

• One of the main themes of the Greater West Belfast Strategy is to maximise housing supply;

• Land availability and cost are major constraints for Housing Associations acquiring and developing sites.

Liverpool Houses Phases 1&2 Environmental Improvements, Lenadoon, West Belfast Scheme Due for Completion 2008/09

105 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Location Map: West Belfast - Common Landlord Areas

106 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

West Belfast Sector

Social Housing Waiting List Analysis

Housing Applicants (Dec 2003 – 2007) Applicant Household Groups (Dec 2007)

Applicants 1,046 Applicants HS A Group 2,209 A Stress 744

2,013 2,116 720

1,859 638 1,709 1,622 1,485 1,345 1,422 1,245 250 89 80 61 169 34

Single Adult Small Large Older 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Persons Family Family Per s ons

Social Housing Allocations Analysis (December 2003 – 2007)

Allocations to Applicants Allocation Household Groups

167 2003 2007 124 403 395 97 349 64 57 14 38 37 10 7

220 211 Single Adult Small Large Older 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Persons Family Family Per s ons

NIHE Housing Stock Analysis (March 2004 – 2008)

Occupied & Available for Letting Profile by Property Type (March 2008)

Available 5,571 Sold 3,807 5,749 5,536 5,303 5,218 5,136 704 370 314 255 147 91 14 1

Bungalow Flat House Cottage S.Level 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 M'onett

107 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Housing Executive Stock (March 2008)

Sold Stock in Bold Text Bung Flat House Mais Cottage Total Void* S/Level West Belfast Sector Common Landlord Areas A’town. Travellers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Andersonstown 115 378 814 203 0 1,510 35 45 236 2,562 107 7 2,957 Ardmoulin 1 0 29 0 0 30 0 0 0 53 0 0 53 Ballymurphy 4 0 328 0 0 332 0 0 0 322 0 0 322 Beechmount 1 4 50 0 0 55 0 1 0 39 0 0 40 Cavendish Street 3 0 159 0 0 162 4 1 0 127 0 0 128 Cluain Mor 6 0 96 0 0 102 0 1 0 61 0 0 62 Dermotthill 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 24 0 0 24 Divis Complex 14 110 195 0 0 319 0 0 33 123 0 0 156 Falls Crt./Clonard Cres. 26 0 181 0 0 207 0 4 0 143 0 0 147 Gransha/Downfine 19 0 11 0 0 30 0 2 0 109 0 0 111 Grosvenor Road 38 68 341 11 0 458 2 7 10 264 5 0 286 Hamill St./John St. 2 0 47 0 0 49 0 0 0 128 0 0 128 Hannahstown 8 0 10 0 1 19 0 1 0 25 0 7 33 Lower Suffolk 0 73 104 0 0 177 3 0 17 152 0 0 169 Moyard 16 0 113 14 0 143 0 1 0 65 7 0 73 New Barnsley 0 11 179 0 0 190 0 0 1 111 0 0 112 Rockmount 0 0 22 0 0 22 0 0 0 53 0 0 53 Roden Street 13 46 145 18 0 222 0 0 6 77 10 0 93 Springfield Park 0 0 34 0 0 34 0 0 0 45 0 0 45

108 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Housing Executive Stock (March 2008) (Continued)

Sold Stock in Bold Text Bung Flat House Mais Cottage Total Void* S/Level West Belfast Sector Common Landlord Areas Springfield Road 10 0 106 0 0 116 0 0 0 72 0 0 72 Springhill 5 0 119 0 0 124 0 3 0 41 0 0 44 Springvale 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 St.James 5 9 111 0 0 125 1 0 7 184 0 0 191 Turf Lodge 63 5 377 8 0 453 1 15 4 510 4 0 533 Westrock 20 0 81 0 0 101 0 10 0 42 0 0 52 Whiterock 1 0 153 0 0 154 0 0 0 239 0 0 239 Totals 370 704 3,807 254 1 5,136 46 91 314 5,571 133 14 6,123 *Of the Total Stock these properties are void and do not include properties for sale or demolition

Land and Property Department (2007/2008)

Activity Applications Offers Made Sales Completed Received

House Sales 256 255 65

109 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Household Composition of Housing Applicants (December 2007)

Settlement Type Single Small Small Large Large Older Total Person Adult Family Adult Family Person West Belfast Sector Common Landlord Areas A’town. Applicant 0 0 000 0 0 Travellers App (HS) 0 0 000 0 0 Alloc App 0 0 000 0 0 A’town. Applicant 521 32 294 10 45 158 1060 App (HS) 351 15 240 6 29 109 750 Alloc App 38 2 38 1 13 19 111 Ardmoulin Applicant 6 0 000 2 8 App (HS) 2 0 000 0 2 Alloc App 0 0 100 0 1 B’murphy. Applicant 19 0 14 0 2 1 36 App (HS) 13 0 13 0 1 1 28 Alloc App 0 0 603 0 9 B’mount. Applicant 59 3 83 1 9 10 165 App (HS) 40 1 67 1 4 6 119 Alloc App 1 1 512 3 13 Cavendish Applicant 7 3 17 0 3 1 31 Street App (HS) 6 0 14 0 1 1 22 Alloc App 1 1 16 0 6 1 25 Cluain Mor Applicant 0 0 000 0 0 App (HS) 0 0 000 0 0 Alloc App 0 0 000 0 0 Divis Applicant 18 2 210 2 25 Complex App (HS) 12 1 200 2 17 Alloc App 10 0 600 0 16 Falls Court/ Applicant 55 3 43 2 8 18 129 Clonard App (HS) 34 0 41 1 6 14 96 Alloc App 1 0 24 0 4 3 32 Gransha/ Applicant 3 0 001 0 4 Downfine App (HS) 3 0 001 0 4 Alloc App 1 0 000 0 1 Grosvenor Applicant 135 8 48 3 4 14 212 Road App (HS) 103 3 45 0 4 8 163 Alloc App 12 1 16 0 1 2 32 Hamill St./ Applicant 7 1 210 4 15 John St. App (HS) 4 0 210 2 9 Alloc App 5 0 000 0 5 H’town. Applicant 1 0 300 1 5 App (HS) 0 0 300 1 4 Alloc App 0 0 000 0 0 Lower Applicant 20 2 600 1 29 Suffolk App (HS) 7 1 400 0 12 Alloc App 11 0 600 1 18

110 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Household Composition of Housing Applicants (December 2007) (Continued)

Settlement Type Single Small Small Large Large Older Total Person Adult Family Adult Family Person West Belfast Sector Common Landlord Areas Moyard Applicant 2 0 10 0 0 0 12 App (HS) 1 0 900 0 10 Alloc App 3 0 500 0 8 New Applicant 13 0 23 1 0 0 37 Barnsley App (HS) 8 0 21 0 0 0 29 Alloc App 0 0 401 0 5 Rockmount Applicant 0 0 300 0 3 App (HS) 0 0 200 0 2 Alloc App 0 0 000 0 0 Roden Applicant 10 0 501 0 16 Street App (HS) 6 0 501 0 12 Alloc App 4 0 000 0 4 Springfield Applicant 5 0 400 0 9 Park App (HS) 4 0 400 0 8 Alloc App 0 0 000 0 0 Springfield Applicant 78 2 38 0 7 4 129 Road App (HS) 61 1 31 0 6 3 102 Alloc App 1 0 200 0 3 Springhill Applicant 16 0 24 0 1 1 42 App (HS) 15 0 22 0 1 1 39 Alloc App 12 0 11 0 3 3 29 Springvale Applicant 2 0 311 2 9 App (HS) 0 0 310 1 5 Alloc App 5 0 000 0 5 St.James Applicant 9 2 25 0 2 15 53 App (HS) 6 0 22 0 2 8 38 Alloc App 2 0 000 2 4 Turf Lodge Applicant 46 0 46 0 5 12 109 App (HS) 33 0 44 0 5 9 91 Alloc App 16 2 13 0 1 22 54 Westrock Applicant 5 1 15 1 0 1 23 App (HS) 3 1 14 1 0 1 20 Alloc App 0 0 712 0 10 Whiterock Applicant 9 0 36 0 0 3 48 App (HS) 8 0 30 0 0 2 40 Alloc App 1 0 701 1 10 Total Applicant 1,046 59 744 21 89 250 2,209 Total App (HS) 720 23 638 11 61 169 1,622 Total Alloc App 124 7 167 3 37 57 395 Applicant – Housing Applicants at December 2007 App (HS) – Housing Stress Applicants at December 2007 Alloc App – Annual Allocations for year ending December 2007

111 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Homeless Information (March 2008)

Homelessness Trends March 2004 – March 2008

March March March March March 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Number Presented 701 793 1,063 1,092 1,023 Number Awarded Full Duty Status 335 381 513 513 502

Household Structure of Homeless Applicants Year to March 2008

Household Structure Number % Awarded % Presented Full Duty Status Single Person 543 53.08 172 34.26 Small Adult 26 2.54 9 1.79 Small Family 327 31.96 234 46.61 Large Family 46 4.50 28 5.58 Large Adult 7 0.68 4 0.80 Older Person 74 7.23 55 10.96 Total 1,023 502

Households Placed in Temporary Accommodation Year to March 2008

Private NIHE Voluntary Total Sector Single Persons & Couples 75 3 56 134 Other Households 126 59 123 308 Total 201 62 179 442

112 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Appendix 5: Shankill Sector Profile

The Shankill sector extends from Brown Square in the east to Glencairn in the west and is wedged between the Crumlin Road and the Falls Road ‘peace line’ to the north and south.

• The demand for social housing has remained largely unchanged since 2003;

• Research reveals a growing waiting list for some areas within Shankill such as Mid Shankill and Woodvale;

• Waiting list times are generally low with the exception of elderly household groups who have an average waiting time of 63 months;

• The Shankill social housing market is characterised by low demand with annual relets and new build allocations meeting current and projected need;

• The Social Housing Development Programme is predominately aimed at the replacement of obsolete housing stock and addressing the imbalance of social housing stock suitable for elderly households.

Highfield Carpark Scheme Shankill District Environmental Improvement& Associated Curtilage Works.

113 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Location Map: Shankill Sector - Common Landlord Areas

114 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Shankill Belfast Sector

Social Housing Waiting List Analysis

Housing Applicants (Dec 2003 – 2007) Applicant Household Groups (Dec 2007) 414 Applicants Applicant Applicants HS Applicants HS 846 700 753 636 611 193 140 131 126

349 33

318 329 23

303 13 280 66 56

Single Adult Small Large Older 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Persons Family Family Per s ons

Social Housing Allocations Analysis (December 2003 – 2007)

Allocations to Applicants Allocation Household Groups 194 2003

164 2007 113

411 84 371 344 343

326 42 28 25 24 23 18

Single Adult Small Large Older 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Per s ons Family Family Persons

NIHE Housing Stock Analysis (March 2004 – 2008)

Occupied & Available for Letting Profile by Property Type (March 2008)

Available 2,711 Sold 1,694

4,190 3,829 3,544 3,579 3,549 342 107 485 11 20 20

Bungalow Flat House S.Level 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 M'onett

115 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Housing Executive Stock (March 2008)

Sold Stock in Bold Text Bung Flat House Mais Cottage Total Void* S/Level Shankill Sector Common Landlord Areas Agnes Street 14 18 75 0 0 107 2 3 1 36 0 0 40 Ainsworth 11 17 97 0 0 125 7 0 5 62 0 0 67 Ballygomartin 0 50 105 0 0 155 6 1 18 168 0 0 187 Brown Square 12 3 55 0 0 70 1 1 1 41 0 0 43 Cambrai/Woodvale 53 54 210 0 0 317 0 1 5 115 0 0 121 Dover 79 30 113 0 0 222 3 5 2 47 0 0 54 Florence/Hopewell 15 47 424 11 0 497 39 1 1 87 0 0 89 Glencairn 16 44 387 0 0 447 13 2 52 344 20 0 418 Highfield 25 41 332 0 0 398 16 1 13 184 0 0 198 Lawnbrook 11 15 131 0 0 157 1 0 1 36 0 0 37 Mid-Shankill 51 72 274 0 0 397 9 4 5 140 0 0 149 RDA Agnes/Crumlin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Springmartin 0 20 120 0 0 140 2 0 0 86 0 0 86 Tudor 6 29 67 0 0 102 2 0 2 50 0 0 52 Twaddell/U.Woodvale 1 0 150 0 0 151 3 0 0 238 0 0 238 Upper Shankill 48 45 171 0 0 264 2 1 1 61 0 0 63 Totals 342 485 2,711 11 0 3,549 106 20 107 1,695 20 0 1,842 *Of the Total Stock these properties are void and do not include properties for sale or demolition

Land and Property Department (2007/2008)

Activity Applications Offers Made Sales Completed Received

House Sales 91 121 32

116 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Household Composition of Housing Applicants (December 2007)

Settlement Type Single Small Small Large Large Older Total Person Adult Family Adult Family Person Shankill Sector Common Landlord Areas Agnes Street Applicant 1 0 000 1 2 App (HS) 0 0 000 0 0 Alloc App 3 0 000 1 4 Ainsworth Applicant 21 5 15 0 2 14 57 App (HS) 8 2 800 11 29 Alloc App 8 3 16 2 6 4 39 B’gomartin. Applicant 12 10 600 8 36 App (HS) 4 3 100 6 14 Alloc App 3 0 201 0 6 Brown Applicant 5 0 100 4 10 Square App (HS) 1 0 000 3 4 Alloc App 1 0 000 0 1 Cambrai/ Applicant 75 9 30 3 9 75 201 Woodvale App (HS) 26 4 11 2 6 50 99 Alloc App 41 3 19 0 7 8 78 Dover Applicant 7 0 100 3 11 App (HS) 3 0 000 3 6 Alloc App 7 2 200 4 15 Florence/ Applicant 34 3 710 4 49 Hopewell App (HS) 9 1 310 3 17 Alloc App 21 1 803 1 34 Glencairn Applicant 50 5 10 0 3 5 73 App (HS) 14 0 501 2 22 Alloc App 31 4 20 0 2 3 60 Highfield Applicant 31 3 601 1 42 App (HS) 7 3 200 0 12 Alloc App 4 2 702 0 15 Lawnbrook Applicant 15 0 410 10 30 App (HS) 1 0 210 8 12 Alloc App 6 2 400 1 13 Mid- Applicant 104 11 32 2 6 39 194 Shankill App (HS) 41 4 17 0 2 24 88 Alloc App 16 1 17 1 1 14 50 RDA Agnes Applicant 0 0 000 0 0 /Crumlin App (HS) 0 0 000 0 0 Alloc App 0 0 000 0 0 S’martin Applicant 8 1 502 3 19 App (HS) 1 0 202 2 7 Alloc App 3 3 111 2 11 Tudor Applicant 6 1 201 3 13 App (HS) 2 0 100 2 5 Alloc App 3 2 100 0 6

117 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Household Composition of Housing Applicants (December 2007) (Continued)

Type Single Small Small Large Large Older Total Person Adult Family Adult Family Person Shankill Sector Common Landlord Areas Twaddell/ Applicant 16 5 18 0 6 18 63 Woodvale App (HS) 6 1 401 9 21 Alloc App 4 0 801 1 14 Upper. Applicant 29 5 313 5 46 Shankill App (HS) 8 1 001 3 13 Alloc App 13 1 800 3 25 Total Applicant 414 58 140 8 33 193 846 Total App (HS) 131 19 56 4 13 126 349 Total Alloc App 164 24 113 4 24 42 371 Applicant – Housing Applicants at December 2007 App (HS) – Housing Stress Applicants at December 2007 Alloc App – Annual Allocations for year ending December 2007

118 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Homeless Information (March 2008)

Homelessness Trends March 2004 – March 2008

March March March March March 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Number Presented 247 288 465 564 405 Number Awarded Full Duty Status 136 164 251 293 244

Household Structure of Homeless Applicants Year to March 2008

Household Structure Number % Awarded % Presented Full Duty Status Single Person 151 37.28 73 29.92 Small Adult 19 4.69 12 4.92 Small Family 116 28.64 65 26.64 Large Family 28 6.91 16 6.56 Large Adult 4 0.99 2 0.82 Older Person 87 21.48 76 31.15 Total 405 244

Households Placed in Temporary Accommodation Year to March 2008

Private NIHE Voluntary Total Sector Single Persons & Couples 7 1 6 14 Other Households 1 4 6 11 Total 8 5 12 25

119 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Appendix 6

Contact Information

Office Contact Contact Information

Belfast Area Office Mr Maurice Johnston Tel No. 08448 920900 32-36 Great Victoria St Area Manager Fax No. 028 90248464 Belfast [email protected] BT2 7BA North Belfast District Mr Sean McKenna Tel No. 08448 920900 Spencer House District Manager Fax No. 028 90441263 71 Royal Avenue [email protected] Belfast BT1 1FE South Belfast District Mr Liam Kinney Tel No. 08448 920900 32-36 Great Victoria St District Manager Fax No. 028 90317711 Belfast [email protected] BT2 7BA East Belfast District Mr Richard Williamson Tel No. 08448 920900 Laganview House District Manager Fax No. 028 90442161 95 Anne Street [email protected] Belfast BT1 3HH West Belfast District Mr Gary Ballantyne Tel No. 08448 920900 9 Upper Queen Street District Manager Fax No. 028 90553031 Belfast [email protected] BT1 6FB Shankill District Mr Gordon Reilly Tel No. 08448 920900 83-87 Shankill Road District Manager Fax No. 028 90237740 Belfast [email protected] BT13 1FD Belfast Housing Mr Malachy McKinney Tel No. 08448 920900 Benefit & Accounts Manager Fax No. 028 90237740 10-16 Hill Street Belfast BT1 2LA NIHE Headquarters General Enquiries Tel No. 08448 920 900 Housing Centre Fax No. 028 9031 8008 Adelaide Street www.nihe.gov.uk Belfast BT2 8PB Belfast Customer Mr Ivan Kelly Tel No. 08448920900 Services Unit Customer Services Repair Line. 08448920901 32-36 Great Victoria St Manager [email protected] Belfast BT2 7BA

120 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Appendix 6 (Continued)

Office Contact Contact Information

Grants Office Mr Joe Connolly Tel No. 08448 920900 Belfast Area Office North & West Grants Fax No. 028 90231864 32-36 Great Victoria St Manager [email protected] Belfast BT2 7BA Grants Office Mr Tom Hall Tel No. 08448 920900 Belfast Area Office South & East Grants Fax No. 028 90231864 32-36 Great Victoria St Manager [email protected] Belfast BT2 7BA Belfast Area Mr Jonathan Blease Tel No. 08448 920900 Information Area Information Officer Fax No. 028 90248464 Belfast Area Office [email protected] 32-36 Great Victoria St Belfast BT2 7BA HMO Unit Mr Kevin Bloomfield Tel No. 08448 920900 Laganview House HMO Unit Manager Fax No 028 90470089 95 Anne Street (Acting) [email protected] Belfast BT1 3HH Belfast Area Planning Mr Robin Hawe Tel No. 08448 920900 Belfast Area Office Area Planner Fax No. 028 90248464 32-36 Great Victoria St [email protected] Belfast BT2 7BA During Business Hours Housing Benefit Maintenance Tel No. 08448920901

After hours emergency phone Nos: Maintenance Tel No. 08448920901 Homelessness Tel No. 028 90565444 Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre Free Phone Tel No. 0800 512012 NIFHA www.nifha.org (Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Tel No. 028 90230446 Associations) Department for Social Development: Housing www.dsdni.gov.uk Operations Associations Branch Tel No. 028 90819547 Eaga Partnership www.eaga.co.uk (Warm Homes) Tel No. 0800181667 Minicom 08000720156

Detailed information on the work of housing associations can be obtained from the web sites of the Department for Social Development (www.dsdni.gov.uk) and the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations, the trade body for housing associations in Northern Ireland (www.nifha.org).

121 Belfast District Housing Plan 2008/09

Appendix 7

Useful Documents

Housing News www.nihe.gov.uk/Your District/

House Condition Survey 2006 www.nihe.gov.uk/publications/reports/houseconditionsurvey2006

Annual Report 2007/08 www.nihe.gov.uk/publications/reports/ar2007main.pdf

Corporate Plan 2007/08 www.nihe.gov.uk/publications/reports/corporateplan08.pdf

Northern Ireland Housing Market: Drivers & Policies www.nihe.gov.uk/publications/reports/housingmarketreviewreport.pdf

Mapping BME & Migrant Worker Communities in NI http://www.nihe.gov.uk/publications/reports/BME_oct07.pdf

Review into Affordable Housing www.nihe.gov.uk/publications/reports/41480AFFORDABLEHOUSING.pdf

Attitudes to Energy Efficiency Report 2006 www.nihe.gov.uk/publications/reports/AttitudestoEnergyEfficiencyReport.pdf

Home Energy Conservation Report 2006 www.nihe.gov.uk/publications/reports/HECA_06.pdf

Rural Matters – Autumn/Winter 2007 www.nihe.gov.uk/publications/reports/ruralmatters.pdf

The Homelessness Strategy www.nihe.gov.uk/publications/reports/homeless02.pdf

Strategy Documents

East Belfast Sectoral Study – June 2007 www.nihe.gov.uk/publications/reports/east belfast sectoral study.pdf

South Belfast Sectoral Study – March 2006 www.nihe.gov.uk/publications/reports/southbelfastsectoralstudy.pdf

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Appendix 7 (Continued)

Greater West Belfast Housing Strategy – 2nd Annual Report www.nihe.gov.uk/publications/reports/wbs2005.pdf

Greater Shankill Housing and Regeneration Strategy www.nihe.gov.uk/publications/reports/gs.pdf

North Belfast Housing Strategy – 3rd Annual Report www.nihe.gov.uk/publications/reports/nbar2004.pdf

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Appendix 8 Glossary

Definition of Waiting List Categories Housing Applicants* Housing Applicants include all those who have applied for accommodation from the Housing Executive and/or a Housing Association, excluding transfer requests. Housing Stress* Housing Applicants obtaining at least 30 points under the Common Selection Scheme. Transfer Applicants* Transfer applicants include all existing tenants who have applied for another home whether to the Housing Executive or another Housing Association. Allocations Dwellings available to housing and transfer applicants as a result of stock turnover and new build completions. Housing Executive void Dwellings vacant for repair, improvement or other reason. stock But NOT those vacant pending sale or demolition. *count of 1st preference applications only

Definition of Household Types

Single Person Small Adult 1 person 16-59 years old 2 persons 16-59 years old Small Family Large Family 1 or 2 persons aged 16 or over, with 1 or 2 1 or 2 persons aged 16 or over, and 3 or children more persons 0-15, or 3 or more persons 16 or over and 2 or more persons aged 0- 15 Large Adult Older Person 3 or more persons aged 16 or over with or 1 or 2 persons aged 16 or over, at least 1 without 1 person aged 0-15 over 60

Definition of Improvement and Planned Maintenance Work Categories IMPROVEMENT Multi Element Improvement May include improvement of living / dining room space, (MEI) refurbishment of kitchens / bathrooms, rewiring and the installation of central heating. Single Element Improvement Addresses one remaining defective element as listed (SEI) under MEI. Incremental Improvement (II) Tackles the elements of work listed under MEI on a phased basis to reflect the availability of funds. Heating Installation (HI) Replacement of solid fuel and electric heating. Clean Air Conversion (CA) Replacement of coal fired heating in clean air zones. Health and Safety (HS) Carry out specific works where health and safety issues have been identified. Special Schemes (SS) Works to dwellings outside the previous Improvement to Purpose Built Stock Programme, for example, relates to roofs, lifts in multi-storey flats, porches, and door entry systems. Structurally Defective Stock Improvements to dwellings, for example, orlits and (SDS) aluminium bungalows. Neighbourhood Most frequently addressed elements of this type of Renewal/Environmental scheme are: definition of ‘focal point’ of an estate; Improvement (EI) open space; provision of hard standings and fencing.

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Appendix 8 (Continued)

PLANNED MAINTENANCE Grounds Maintenance (GM) Minor improvements to estates, for example, tree and shrub planting. External Cyclical Maintenance Involves carrying out maintenance to the external (ECM) fabric of the dwelling and its immediate surroundings. Revenue Replacement (RR1) Involves the replacement of any internal elements that have reached the end of their expected useful life, for example, sanitary ware and kitchen units. Revenue Repair (RR2) Involves miscellaneous repairs of minor elements. Smoke Alarm Installation (SAI) Installation of hard wire smoke alarms. Special Revenue (SR) Usually an ECM scheme which requires works outside the normal specification of ECM. Asbestos Removal (AR) Involves the removal or treatment of asbestos in properties where surveys require urgent or major works.

Definition of Grant Types Grant Type Description Renovation This grant is aimed at the improvement and repair of unfit houses. It is available to both owner/occupiers and landlords. Replacement This grant is available for the complete replacement of rural dwellings which, on either structural or economic grounds, are not suitable for renovation. A Replacement Grant is available to both owner/occupiers and landlords, but is normally restricted to occupied dwellings. Disabled Facilities This grant is available to meet the needs of persons with disabilities. Grant work is restricted to those works specifically recommended by the Occupational Therapist. It is available to owner/occupiers, landlords and private sector tenants. Home Repair Assistance This grant may be available to carry out moderate repairs, Grant improvements and basic security measures. Owner/occupiers and private sector tenants who are in receipt of a means tested benefit may be eligible to apply. Repairs Grant This grant is available to landlords and certain tenants. It covers any works of repair that have been required by the service of a Public Health Notice or Certificate of Disrepair. Houses in Multiple Grant aid is available to make HMOs fit for human habitation Occupation (HMO) and fit for the number of occupants, but normally only for the following: • Houses within Town Centre Living Initiative Areas; • Houses within designated Rural Priority Areas and Grants Urban Priority Areas. Group Repair Group Repair is a scheme based grant subsidy targeted to terraced houses where it has been agreed that an area based approach to improvement is appropriate. The Group Repair Scheme enables the Housing Executive to assist owners of private sector dwellings to improve the exterior structure of their properties.

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