Investment Plan Outlined for Derry City & Strabane

Our senior staff presented our investment plans for  the Derry City & Strabane area.
Our senior staff presented our investment plans for the Derry City & Strabane area.

Senior staff recently met Derry City & Strabane District Council  for an update on our plans for the next year and to report on last year’s investment.

The Housing Executive is due to make a significant investment in the Derry City & Strabane area during 2019/20 to support the delivery of new homes.

Download the Derry City & Strabane Housing Investment Plan 2019-2023

Almost £33.12m will be invested in upgrading and maintaining our properties, supporting people to live independently, increasing the energy efficiency of homes and providing grant aid in the private sector.

Through our Landlord and Regional Services last year, we invested £92.19m in the Derry City & Strabane District Council area, as part of £124.72m overall housing spend for the area during 2018/19.  This includes grant aid to housing associations for the building and rental of new houses.

Our staff gave a presentation on the Housing Investment Plan (HIP) to local Councillors, during which they highlighted many of our achievements made over the past year.

Across Northern Ireland, we channelled some £82.3m into services to help the most vulnerable which included £10.1m of direct funding on homelessness and £72.2m through our Supporting People Programme.  The funding provided by Supporting People includes £26m on services which assist homeless households.

In addition, there was a large planned maintenance programme, with work undertaken at 28,223 homes; a direct investment of £128m to these homes.
Over 380,000 response maintenance repairs were carried out at a budgetary cost of £54.2m.

Homeowners and private landlords also received considerable support, with £13.7m spent through home improvement grants and £16.4m in tackling fuel poverty through the Affordable Warmth and Boiler Replacement Schemes.

Speaking at the Presentation to Derry City & Strabane District Council, Clark Bailie, our Chief Executive, said:
“A range of stakeholders inform our Housing Investment Plan, which is developed as a comprehensive conversation piece for the whole Northern Ireland housing sector.

“We have a good working relationship with Derry City & Strabane District Council and there is a lot of engagement on priorities.

“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 proposals for 2019-23.

“Lots of work needs 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.”

Maintaining our housing stock is a priority and this year the organisation will spend £11.64m in the Derry City & Strabane District Council area, on planned and response maintenance to our homes. 

This will include external maintenance work to 2,041 homes, heating installation in 526 homes and double glazing in 368 homes.

This year, we plan to invest almost £2.21m on stock improvements and adaptations for disabled persons.

During 2019/20, in partnership with housing associations, around 639 new homes are planned throughout the Derry City & Strabane District Council area.

We endeavour to support the most vulnerable members of society through its Supporting People Programme.

In 2019/20, we will invest over £16.52m for housing support services.

We currently funds 69 accommodation based services for 1,331 service users in the Derry City & Strabane area as well as 10 floating support services for 488 service users.

We continue to contribute to the private sector through a variety of grants to help adapt homes and to support people living in their own home, for longer.  

Last year, we approved 154 disabled facilities grants and a number of repair and renovation grants totalling £2.07m.

Speaking at the Presentation, our North Regional Manager, Frank O’Connor said:
“Our local office teams provide a high quality, dedicated housing service to the area

“Working alongside our Customer Services Unit, Accounts and Housing Benefit teams, we provide our tenants and the wider community with an effective and efficient service.

“We are committed to investing in the Derry City & Strabane area, to improve the lives of people in our community.

“My thanks are extended to the Councillors and Officers of Derry City & Strabane District Council for their support for the Housing Executive - we look forward to continuing to work with them on matters of mutual interest over the coming year.”