East Belfast Sectoral Study - Northern Ireland Housing Executive

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proposals to create a network of Quality Bus Corridors where a fleet of modern accessible buses will provide more frequent services on existing routes and also on new routes which will provide access to new development nodes. In addition the Department recently commissioned an economic feasibility study on proposals for a “rapid transit” system for Belfast. Tram type coaches using parts of the abandoned Belfast and Co Down railway track bed could also form part of the proposed “EWAY” scheme, which will run between Dundonald and Belfast city centre. A similar service which would link the Titanic Quarter development, George Best City Airport and the new retail development in the Belfast Harbour Estate is also being assessed. Shared Future Government’s ‘A Shared Future’, policy and strategy framework for good relations in Northern Ireland was published in March 2005. This policy required the Housing Executive to bring forward shared future housing schemes. To date the Housing Executive has successfully launched the first shared future housing scheme, in partnership with Ulidia Housing Association, at Carron Crescent, Enniskillen with a second pilot approved in Loughbrickland programmed for 2007/08. The overriding principle is that shared housing should be promoted in areas where it is practicable, desirable and safe. All allocations are carried out in accordance with the rules governing the Common Selection Scheme provide no one community background exceeding 70% of the total number of households. The majority of residents sign up to the principles of a ‘Voluntary Neighbourhood Charter’ which demonstrates ‘intentionality’ of residents to adhere to the ethos of shared community living. This model provides the outline to manage, support, sustain and monitor such schemes which also includes the delivery of a good relations programme. The Housing Executive is committed to supporting people who wish to live in mixed religion neighbourhoods. It now seeks ways to engage with communities in East Belfast to discuss the delivery of shared future housing schemes. 12
3.0 Demographic/Socio Economic Context 3.1 Population The population of the Sectoral Study area fell slightly between 1991 and 2001 from 101,366 in 1991 to 100,534 in 2001, a decrease of 1%. This small decrease was in line with the other sectors of the city, with the exception of South Belfast which increased by 12% in the same period. The population of the Belfast City Council portion of the study area fell by 2.2% while the Castlereagh portion had an increase of 3% in the 1991-2001 period. The total population of Northern Ireland rose by 6.8%. 1991 2001 1991-2001 Variance East Belfast City Council Area 70081 68528 -1553 (2.2%) Castlereagh Council Area 31285 32006 + 721 (3%) Total Study Area 101,366 100,534 -832 (1%) Table 1 Study Area Population 1991-2001 Census The population of individual wards has remained fairly constant since 1991, with a few notable exceptions: • The population of Bloomfield Ward rose by almost 24%, while The Mount lost almost 20% of its population in the period • Within Castlereagh, Carrowreagh and Grahams Bridge wards had increases of 73% and 37% respectively largely accounted for by new private sector housebuilding. The Upper Braniel ward lost 23% of its population. The structure of the East Belfast population largely reflects the city/regional trends as illustrated in the table below. Age Group East Belfast All Belfast Castlereagh 0-17 15357 (22.5%) 68563 (25%) 7329 (23%) 18-44 25778 (37.5%) 111269 (40%) 11545 (36%) 45-59 11736 (17%) 43041 (15%) 5592 (17%) 60+ 15557 (23%) 54518 (20%) 7540 (24%) Total 68528 277391 32006 Table 2 Population Age Structure (2001 Census) There is a slightly higher proportion of elderly residents (60+) in East Belfast than the city as a whole. The number of elderly increased in Cherryvalley ward in the 1991-2001 period but reduced significantly in the Woodstock, Island and The Mount wards. A report by Healthy Cities Belfast in April 2006 shows that Cherryvalley, Stormont, 13
Page 2 and 3: TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction
Page 5 and 6: 2.0 Strategic Context 2.1 Backgroun
Page 7: exacerbating land and property pric
Page 10 and 11: interface around Short Strand/Bally
Page 14 and 15: Knock and Orangefield Wards have th
Page 16 and 17: environment and crime and crime and
Page 18 and 19: area, 1653 in the Belfast City port
Page 20 and 21: years. The current affordability cr
Page 22 and 23: Most areas are experiencing increas
Page 24 and 25: the growing interest in buy to let
Page 26 and 27: 5.0 Private Sector Market Perspecti
Page 28 and 29: Property Type Average Price 2005 Qu
Page 30 and 31: continue in the longer term, the fa
Page 32 and 33: 32 July 2006
Page 34 and 35: 1. Introduction and approach to the
Page 36 and 37: changes to the education system in
Page 38 and 39: significant in the re-branding of S
Page 40 and 41: though one major agent with an exte
Page 42 and 43: that the current price thresholds f
Page 44 and 45: scheme. The scheme is attracting yo
Page 46 and 47: sector for at least the short-term.
Page 48 and 49: 8. Relationship of East Belfast mar
Page 50 and 51: 10. Conclusions 10.1 The overall co
Page 52 and 53: demand and keeping rental levels do
Page 54 and 55: Appendix 2 Northern Ireland Housing

East Belfast Sectoral Study - Northern Ireland Housing Executive

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