Social Housing:  Glengormley

Oral Answers to Questions – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:00 pm on 24 June 2014.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Paula Bradley Paula Bradley DUP 3:00, 24 June 2014

4. asked the Minister for Social Development for his assessment of the social housing need in Glengormley. (AQO 6442/11-15)

Photo of Nelson McCausland Nelson McCausland DUP

In March 2014, there were 233 applications on the waiting list for Glengormley, of which 156 were deemed to be in housing stress.  In the 12 months to March 2014, there were 37 social housing allocations.

There have been no new social housing schemes built in the Glengormley area since 1999 — 15 years ago.  However, a combined projected social housing need of 116 units has been identified for Glengormley for the period 2013-18.  That can be broken down as Glenvarna, 74 units; Queens Park, 30 units; and Hightown, 12 units. In the current social housing development programme, Clanmil Housing has 21 units on site at 369-371 Antrim Road.  A further 12 units are programmed to start between 2014-15 and 2016-17, with six units at Ballyduff Road, Carnmoney, and six units at Moss Road.  Those will be delivered by the Apex Housing Group.

Photo of Paula Bradley Paula Bradley DUP

I thank the Minister and am encouraged that there are new houses in the pipeline.  I am sure that he shares my alarm at the fact that not one home has been built in Glengormley for the past 15 years, even though we have had substantial need in Queens Park and Glenvarna.  Does he agree that that is unacceptable, and will he undertake to find out how that has happened and why nothing has been done in the past 15 years?  Will he also ensure that the Housing Executive proactively addresses that situation as a matter of great urgency?

Photo of Nelson McCausland Nelson McCausland DUP

I share the Member's concern that, in the space of 15 years, not one house was completed in the Glengormley area, which includes Glenvarna and Queens Park.  That was in spite of the fact that there is significant need there.  In those two estates alone, it is 104 units.  It is difficult to understand why nothing was done more proactively to address the problem.  There may be issues with the availability of land, but, if there is a situation there and you think about it and try to address it, surely something could have been done over that 15-year period.

I certainly share the Member's concern and think that it is important that we get to an understanding of why that has happened.  Indeed, the Member will be well aware that the Member of Parliament for North Belfast raised the matter recently on a number of occasions and rightly so.  It is the sort of information that needs to be brought to attention and addressed.  There is a clear housing need in the area, yet, over that 15-year period, nothing was built at all.

Some 22 units that are on site are for over-55s, so there are actually no family homes even now in the area.  We need to understand that and make sure that the Housing Executive addresses that need proactively.

Photo of Alban Maginness Alban Maginness Social Democratic and Labour Party

Will the Minister outline how many relets are on that waiting list?

Photo of Nelson McCausland Nelson McCausland DUP

The figure that I quoted of a need for 104 units in Glenvarna and Queen's Park takes account of relets.  I do not have to hand the detailed figures for relets, but I am happy to get the information for the Member.  Even if you take relets into account, however, there is a shortage of 104 units across those two estates in Glengormley.  That is a significant figure in anybody's book, and something needs to be done about it.  Of course, where there are newbuilds, you tend to find an increase in demand because a newbuild home is always particularly attractive and people will tend, quite often, to put their name down for that area.  There has not been one there in 15 years.