We are due to make a significant investment in the Mid and East Antrim area during 2019/20 to support the delivery of new homes.
Almost £17.62m 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 £38.55m in the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council area. This includes grant aid to Housing Associations for the building and rental of new homes.
Senior staff gave a presentation on our 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 and East Antrim Borough Council, Catherine McFarland, our Director of Finance, Audit and Assurance, 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 and East Antrim Borough 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 we will spend £8.75m in the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council area, on planned and response maintenance to our homes.
This will include external maintenance work to 1,557 homes, heating installation in 294 homes and double glazing in 196 homes.
This year, we plan to invest almost £2.26m on stock improvements and adaptations for disabled persons.
During 2019/20, in partnership with housing associations, around 266 new homes are planned throughout the borough.
We endeavour to support the most vulnerable members of society through our Supporting People Programme.
In 2019/20, the Housing Executive will invest over £5.12m for housing support services.
We currently fund 66 accommodation based services for 1,185 service users in the Mid and East Antrim area as well as three floating support services for 925 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 53 disabled facilities grants and a number of repair and renovation grants totalling £0.59m.
Speaking at the Presentation, our North Regional Manager, Frank O’Connor said:
“Our Mid and East Antrim 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 and East Antrim area, to improve the lives of people in our community.
“My thanks are extended to the Councillors and Officers of Mid and East Antrim Borough 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.”
