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
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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 />
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