Public sector housing sees investment of £21m across Antrim and Newtownabbey

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive met with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council this week for an update on the housing body’s plans for the next year and to report on last year’s investment.
Mossley Mill.Mossley Mill.
Mossley Mill.

At Monday’s meeting, elected members were told how lockdown measures put in place by the Government in response to the Covid-19 pandemic meant the suspension of all but emergency and statutory maintenance activities in March 2020.

A spokesperson for the body said: “The Housing Executive had planned to invest £227 million across all improvement and maintenance activities in its stock in 2020/21; there remains, however, ongoing uncertainties on the type and level of stock investment that can be delivered this year.

“During 2019/20, the Housing Executive delivered significant housing investment for a wide range of services, and the public sector housing investment totalled £21.01m for Antrim and Newtownabbey.

“This includes grant aid to housing associations for the building and rental of new houses.

“The Housing Executive channelled almost £73m into services to help the most vulnerable through its Supporting People Programme and a further £12.6m through its homelessness programme.

“In addition, there was a large planned maintenance programme, with work undertaken at 17,147 homes, a direct investment of £77.7m to these homes.

“There were 320,523 response maintenance repairs carried out at a budgetary cost of £52.7m in 2019/20.

Homeowners and private landlords also received considerable support, with £15.61m spent through home improvement grants and £13.7m in tackling fuel poverty through the Affordable Warmth and Boiler Replacement Schemes.”

Speaking at the presentation to the local authority, Colm

McQuillan, the Housing Executive’s Director of Housing Services, said: “2020 has been an unprecedented year for everyone. The Housing Executive has followed government advice on the management of the coronavirus outbreak and we have made changes in the way we deliver our services.

“These changes are intended to protect our staff and customers while ensuring that we continue to provide key essential services.

“Our Housing Investment Plan is developed as a comprehensive conversation piece for the whole Northern Ireland housing sector, and is informed by a range of stakeholders.

“As the strategic housing authority for Northern Ireland, we have prepared this Housing Investment Plan to inform the Community Planning Partnership on the state of the housing market, on housing needs, the policy priorities and public sector investment.

“While we are still unsure what our programmes will look like over the coming year, we continue to make plans for when we can commence all work.

“There remains a lot of work to be done to meet housing need, to improve housing stock and to provide support for the most vulnerable in our community. We will continue to play our part to ensure this work is delivered efficiently and effectively.”

From June 2020, works recommenced to external areas and vacant properties, but there remains uncertainty on the type and level of stock investment that can be delivered this year.

During 2019/20, in partnership with housing associations, 107 new homes were built throughout the borough.

The Housing Executive currently funds 48 accommodation-based services for 1,000 service users in the Antrim and Newtownabbey area as well as three floating support services for 309 service users.

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