AQW 8728/22-27 Written question to the Minister for Communities
To ask the Minister for Communities, following comments by the Speaker at the conclusion of Question Time on 12 March 2024, whether he will supply the information requested in AQW 6595/22-27.
Asked by Connie Egan MLA on 12 March 2024
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 12 March 2024
- Answer due by
- 28 March 2024
- Answered
- 3 May 202452 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Communities
- Priority question
- No
Answer
This issue is an operational matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
I have sought the requested information from the Chief Executive, who has advised me as follows:
“The Social Housing Development Programme (SHDP) is approved on a 3-Year rolling basis, so details of new social housing proposals for the North Down Parliamentary Constituency are only available for the period 2024/25 – 2026/27.
Within the North Down Parliamentary Constituency there are currently 61 social housing units under construction. I have provided the detail of these units in Table 1 below.
Additionally, there are 100 social housing units programmed to start as part of the Social Housing Development Programme (SHDP) 2024/25 – 2026/27. The delivery of these and the wider Social Housing Development Programme will be subject to sufficient capital budget being made available to my Department. I have provided details of these units in Table 2 below.
Please note that programmed schemes can be lost or slip to future programme years for a variety of reasons e.g. relating to delays in acquiring sites and/or failure to secure Planning Approval. Additional schemes can also be added to the SHDP ‘in-year’ through Competitive Land, Design & Build procurement route and/or the purchase of Existing Satisfactory / Off-the-Shelf properties.
Table 1: Social housing units under construction in the North Down Parliamentary Constituency
| Housing Association | Scheme Name | Location | Type | Units | Onsite Year | CompletionYear |
| Ark | Donaghadee Road | Bangor | Competitive Land Design & Build | 8 | 2022/23 | 2024/25 |
| Ark | 12 Ballywalter Road | Millisle | Competitive Land Design & Build | 9 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
| Clanmil | Savoy Redevelopment (Blocks B & C) | Bangor | New Build | 26 | 2021/22 | 2024/25 |
| Habinteg/Woven | Balmoral Dale, Phase 2 | Bangor | Social Housing via Planning Gain | 17 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
| NB Housing | 10 Abbey Gardens | Millisle | Rehab | 1 | 2022/23 | 2024/25 |
Table 2: Social housing units programmed to start through the SHDP 2024/25 – 2026/27 in the North Down Parliamentary Constituency
| Housing Association | Scheme Name | Location | Type | Units | Onsite Year | CompletionYear |
| Alpha | Meeting House Street | Portaferry | New Build | 6 | 2024/25 | 2025/26 |
| Choice | Worcester Avenue | Bangor | New Build | 49 | 2025/26 | 2028/29 |
| Clanmil | Bangor Marina Regeneration | Bangor | New Build | 32 | 2025/26 | 2027/28 |
| Radius | Castle Street | Comber | Competitive Land Design & Build | 13 | 2025/26 | 2026/27 “ |
For any future queries relating to operational matters, you may wish to contact the Northern Ireland Housing Executive directly at Public.Affairsunit@nihe.gov.uk Making direct contact with the ALB will ensure that you receive the information in the shortest possible timeframe and make best use of public resources.