Limavady District Housing Plan 2011/12 - Northern Ireland Housing ...

Foreword
The District Housing Plan reports Housing Executive performance for 2010/2011 and
the programmes planned for your council area for the coming year.
The recession continues to have an impact on the entire public sector and recent
budgets from the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive have pointed to
continuing reductions in public expenditure, especially in capital projects, for the
foreseeable future. In addition the collapse of the property market has a direct
effect on the amount of income that we receive from selling our houses and land.
Despite the economic situation, in the past year, housing associations, in
partnership with the Housing Executive and the Department for Social
Development (DSD) started work on a record 2,418 social housing units, greatly
exceeding the target of 2,000. However, with reducing levels of funding for new
housing in the coming years, the target for the year ahead will be 1,400 starts and
the budget for the succeeding two years will reduce these annual targets further.
In terms of our own houses, you will see from this year’s Plan that we are limited in
the number of improvements that we will carry out compared to previous years.
The recent severe winter weather highlighted the need to invest in our stock and
especially to ensure houses are as warm and energy efficient as possible. We will
continue to make the case for investment in our tenant’s homes and across all
tenures.
The initial report of the fundamental review of the Housing Executive,
commissioned by the Department for Social Development (DSD), was submitted in
March. We expect that there will be extensive consultation on any proposals
which will be put forward by the Department.
2011 marks the 40th anniversary of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, an
organisation which has a history of achievement and progress. However, we work
to serve the community and we want to continue to move forward and meet the
housing challenges which are ahead of us.
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