Mid Ulster Investment Plan outlined
Senior staff recently met Mid Ulster District Council for an update on the housing body’s plans for the next year and to report on last year’s investment.
We are due to make a significant investment in the Mid Ulster area, during 2019/20, to support the delivery of new homes.
Almost £11.76m 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 £21.83m in the Mid Ulster District Council area. This includes grant aid to Housing Associations for the building of new houses.
Senior staff gave a presentation on the Housing Investment Plan (HIP) to local Councillors, during which they highlighted many of the organisation’s achievements made over the past year.
Across Northern Ireland, we channelled some £82.3m into services to help the most vulnerable. This included £10.1m of direct funding on homelessness services and £72.2m of Supporting People grant of which £26m provided housing support services to 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 Mid Ulster District Council, Siobhan McCauley, our Director of Regional Services, 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 Mid Ulster 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 £5.09m in the Mid Ulster District Council area, on planned and response maintenance to its homes.
This will include external maintenance work to 717 properties, 168 properties will receive Double Glazing installations; 117 properties will receive Kitchen Replacements, 161 properties will receive Bathroom Replacements, 162 properties will receive Kitchen and Bathroom replacements and 235 properties will receive Heating Installations.
This year, we plan to invest almost £1.42m on stock improvements and adaptations for disabled persons.
During 2019/20, in partnership with housing associations, around 57 new homes are planned throughout the district.
We endeavour to support the most vulnerable members of society through our Supporting People Programme.
In 2019/20, we will invest £3.44m for housing support services.
We currently fund 36 accommodation based services for almost 532 service users in the Mid Ulster area as well as five floating support services for 224 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, it approved 88 disabled facilities grants and a number of repair and renovation grants totalling £1.47m.
Speaking at the Presentation, our Regional Manager for Mid Ulster Comghal McQuillan said;
“Our Mid Ulster 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 Mid Ulster District Council area, to improve the lives of people in our community.
“My thanks are extended to the Councillors and Officers of Mid Ulster 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.”