SDLP Social Justice Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has welcomed the premise of the ‘Living Over the Shops’ Assembly motion which would repurpose residential space above retail premises in an attempt to increase housing and aid in economic recovery.
However, he argued that addressing the housing crisis requires more than just increasing supply, reiterating calls for a detailed Housing Strategy.
Said the Foyle MLA: “We are all too familiar with the long waiting lists for housing across the North: 38,000 applicants but less than 2.000 new social housing units built every year.
“With the greatest need being in my own constituency of Foyle, having nearly 3000 people on the housing waiting list.
“As such, I welcome any innovative measure that will help to ensure that everyone across the North has a roof over their head.
“However, I have concerns that a scheme which begins and ends with grants to landlords has more potential pitfalls than benefits.
“A 2016 report from the Department for Communities looked into viability of such a scheme. However, I hope Minister Ní Chuilín will undertake an updated, comprehensive assessment- one which will consider the new, unfortunate reality that many shops in our city and town centres will struggle to stay open in the coming months.
“Encouraging private landlords to develop empty space above commercial properties requires careful consideration and strategic planning.
“Living over the Shop schemes, make use of existing infrastructure to provide housing more quickly than it takes to build entirely new houses.
“Yet, while we all want to see new homes built, there is a risk of rushing in with grants and ending up with housing that is both unaffordable and unsuitable for the people in the greatest housing need.
“The 2016 Departmental report cited research showing that city centre living is most likely to appeal to young, single professionals.
“They certainly need housing and are part of what makes city centre living vibrant but the majority of people I meet in housing need are families with children.
“Clearly the solution to our housing crisis is not simply increasing supply it is about increasing supply of affordable, high-quality housing for sustainable communities.
“This is why the SDLP have long called for a 20-year Housing Strategy that would incorporate supply, affordability, regulation of the growing private rental sector and homelessness.
“Now is the time to identify potential pitfalls and learn the lessons of similar schemes in England in the late 90s, which failed to consider access to public services.
“In order to create sustainable, fit for purpose communities we need carefully thought-out initiatives which consider people, not numbers.”
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