The Housing Executive

This will be carried out in the Lower Shankill area and the project was officially launched at a consultation day held in the Shankill Leisure Centre. The Health Impact Assessment is being carried out in partnership with Belfast Healthy Cities and Investing for Health.

Health Impact Assessments are all about the overall effects, direct or indirect, of a policy, strategy, programme or project on the health and well being of a community. They are designed to influence decision making by raising awareness of the linkage between social, environmental and economic factors.

It is also an effective way of encouraging those directly affected to become involved in the decision making process; while providing an opportunity to create healthier living environments and to support healthier lifestyles.

The Lower Shankill area is a key element of the Housing Executive’s Greater Shankill Housing Strategy and we are now developing a specific regeneration strategy for the area. Speaking at the launch of the project,  District Manger Gordon Reilly said “This is the first ever Health Impact Assessment to be commissioned by the Housing Executive. I’m delighted that it is being undertaken in the Lower Shankill area, as it will enable us to assess the health impact of proposed redevelopment options.

"The link between housing and health has been well documented over the years. We know that good quality housing and housing services contribute significantly to the health and well being of communities and that poor housing can have a negative effect on those communities.

"However, to improve the health and well being of communities requires collaborative working and the Health Impact Assessment will allow us to do that.

"Through this assessment we will be able to gauge the views and concerns of residents and other stakeholders in the Lower Shankill area so that a regeneration strategy that is inclusive of people’s health can be developed.”

Joan Devlin, Director of Belfast Healthy Cities echoed those sentiments and added “Belfast Healthy Cities was delighted to come on board with this project. The Health Impact Assessment will allow us to raise awareness of health issues amongst all the people involved.

"Information gathered during the project will help form the basis of recommendations to improve the health and well being of people living in the Lower Shankill area.”

The Lower Shankill community will be fully involved in the project. Ernie McKinney from the Lower Shankill Residents’ Association welcomed this new approach by the Housing Executive and commented “I am confident that the Health Impact Assessment will be a very helpful and worthwhile project. I would urge Lower Shankill residents to fully participate with the Housing Executive in this project as it will give them a voice and ensure that their opinions are fully taken on board at the planning stage.”

Health Impact Assessments take a holistic approach and emphasise the involvement of a range of stakeholders including the public so that expertise and opinions can be taken into consideration in the planning and decision making process.

According to the Noble Indicators the Lower Shankill suffers from serious levels of multiple deprivation.

Our Greater Shankill Housing Strategy was launched in September 2004.