Kinahan highlights need for Affordable Housing
South Antrim Ulster Unionist candidate in the forthcoming Assembly elections, Cllr Danny Kinahan, has welcomed the preliminary review in Affordable Housing made by the department of Social Development.
“This is very thorough study of what is a relatively new problem for our planners, but one that needs to be addressed now,” said Cllr Kinahan.
“We desperately need to plan for both affordable and social housing in all our towns and villages. We need to act as quickly as possible and in a way that integrates well with the countryside and sits comfortably with the local community.
“This excellent preliminary report has very many good recommendations highlighting such matters as the Area Plan system failing to deliver, and stresses the need to be able to speed up the system, set up new procurement arrangements for housing Associations, reduce VAT on building, release brownfield sites and most importantly the need to promote “Community Planning”.
I am concerned however that “fast tracking” and “routes through” may lead to developments that do not fit in with their new neighbourhoods. Present guidelines for mixed housing in dense developments do not suit every part. In fact dense development should be avoided. We must find a balance.
“It is an excellent and thorough report showing that new ways must be found, but proper consultation with the communities and with the councils is paramount.