Welcome for hint of more planning help for affordable homes

NIFHA agrees with the Minister’s comment that it is important the planning system is improved to support the delivery of more social and affordable houses. However, the Federation points out the planning system should also make full use of its existing powers to assist in the provision of social housing. In its submission to Sir John Semple’s review of housing affordability NIFHA recommended the planning system should build on the foundation laid by the Regional Development Strategy by:

• Ensuring all new development plans zone land for social housing (Planning Policy Statement 12 - PPS12 )
• Insisting that all planning applications provide a suitable mix of housing types and tenures (Policy HS of PPS12)
• Requiring all larger planning applications to provide a mix of house types and sizes (Policy HS4 of PPS12)

NIFHA’s Chief Executive, Chris Williamson commented “Stronger measures requiring private developers to include social or affordable housing amongst their development would be a very positive step forward in tackling the growing need. But in the interim a lot more could be achieved if the Planning Service made more use of existing powers to help housing associations provide good quality, affordable rental accommodation for people in need.”

Since 54% of those on the waiting list are assessed as being in "housing stress" NIFHA believes it is imperative for the government to ensure that all its agencies contribute to solving this serious social problem.