Welcome For Housing Market Investment

Ulster Unionist Councillor Stephen Nicholl has welcomed the announcement of a £100 million investment in the Northern Ireland

Housing Market. The Antrim Council member said:

"I am delighted with the news that a leading UK institution has focussed significant resources on purchasing and developing sites across Northern Ireland. At this time when resources are scarce it pleasing to see that there are those who recognise that Northern Ireland is still a place to do business. This investment is both significant and timely and has the potential to act as a "pump-priming" boost to the housing market.

This Institution has appointed Planning Direct, a well known local planning consultancy, to act on their behalf in this issue. Planning Direct will be contacting local estate agents and banks to outline the nature of the investment as well as advertising in the local press.

Much of the work in bringing this investment has been carried out by a new organisation called the Northern Ireland Housing Institute which has been created to lobby for new and innovative approaches to address the social and affordable housing needs of our community.

This think-tank intends to further develop policy ideas which promote the moving away from the concept of higher costs with no added value which has plagued the system in recent years to a system which promotes sustainable, affordable development.

As an example this first initiative is designed to ensure that sites that have been land-banked or under-developed are rapidly developed thereby freeing up capital and maintaining employment levels in the building industry.

Making the most of this initiative and others will depend on the ability of the Executive and its Ministers to take pro-active decisions to support the local economy."

ENDS