10.10.2014 Views

Ards District Housing Plan 2013 - Northern Ireland Housing Executive

Ards District Housing Plan 2013 - Northern Ireland Housing Executive

Ards District Housing Plan 2013 - Northern Ireland Housing Executive

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Following public consultation we<br />

have recently begun<br />

implementation of the new Rural<br />

Action <strong>Plan</strong> <strong>2013</strong>-15. The plan<br />

contains over 50 actions which<br />

we will undertake over the next<br />

two years. We intend to build on<br />

the success of the Rural Action<br />

<strong>Plan</strong> 2009-12 which saw targets<br />

for new build and Warm Homes<br />

exceeded. We have included actions to explore new ways to deliver social and<br />

affordable housing in rural areas. We will continue to consult with our Rural<br />

Residents’ Forum to ensure any new policies are rural proofed, as well as scrutinizing<br />

existing services. The Rural Action <strong>Plan</strong> demonstrates our continued commitment to<br />

delivering vibrant and sustainable rural communities.<br />

In <strong>Ards</strong> Borough, we support physical and community regeneration through a <br />

number of activities:<br />

• As part of the SPOD Programme, we<br />

continue to work with partner organisations<br />

delivering a range of projects in Westwinds,<br />

Bowtown and Glen estates relating to<br />

health, education, youth and intergenerational<br />

activities. Funding has also<br />

facilitated new community premises and<br />

the employment of a development worker;<br />

• The Areas at Risk Programme identified<br />

Scrabo estate in Newtownards and<br />

Beechfield/Ashfield estate in Donaghadee<br />

as areas at risk of decline. The <strong>Housing</strong><br />

<strong>Executive</strong>, supported by <strong>Ards</strong> Community<br />

Network and other partners, continues to<br />

work with residents’ associations in these<br />

areas to deliver a range of programmes with the aim of encouraging voluntary<br />

community engagement and promoting self sufficiency;<br />

• We continue to support community development through the funding and<br />

oversight of Supporting Communities <strong>Northern</strong> <strong>Ireland</strong> which provides advice and<br />

support to local community groups;<br />

• We support the regeneration of brownfield sites, including government surplus<br />

sites, where possible, for social housing. During 2012/13, 90 units completed on<br />

four brownfield sites in Newtownards town and work continued on Connswater’s<br />

scheme at 51 Newtownards Road, Comber to deliver 12 units. In Westwinds<br />

estate, unpopular flats were demolished at Lysander Park to further the<br />

regeneration of the estate through new build (see Appendix 1);<br />

32

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!