North may adopt affordable housing plan

The British government today launched a review which could make it easier for people on low incomes in the North to buy homes.

The move came as the number of homeless families continued to increase and house prices soared by 18.5%.

David Hanson, British department for social development minister said: “We recognise that housing has become increasingly difficult for many people to access.

“Homelessness and housing stress continue to rise and house price inflation in Northern Ireland has outstripped other parts of the UK.”

In March 2006 there were 32,215 people awaiting affordable housing, of whom 17,433 were in urgent need.

In the financial year ending March 2006, 20,121 people presented themselves as homeless to the Housing Executive and half the cases were accepted.

This is an increase on the previous year when 8,470 people were awarded homeless status.

Mr Hanson added: “Government is committed to making sure that everyone has access to a decent affordable home.

“We recognise that housing has become increasingly difficult for many people to access.

“It is clear that there are some areas, mostly urban, where communities are under stress and the demographic profile is predominantly elderly or those who are less well-off.”

House price inflation in the last financial year was 18.5% in the North compared with 5.8% in England.

“The review will consider not just the problems experienced by first-time buyers and low-income households attempting to enter owner-occupation but will also look at the social and private rented sectors,” said Sir John Semple, who will lead the study.

“It has a wide remit and will consider existing policies and programmes such as the social housing development programme, co-ownership and planning policies, as well as exploring innovative approaches to improve the supply of social and private housing.”

He said he would hold seminars across the North to hear how the problem affected people and hear suggestions for solutions.