Housing Association Guide Part 2 - Appendix 1Assessing Housing Need
Contents
1.01Assessing Housing Need – the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) is the strategic Regional Housing Authority for Northern Ireland and is responsible for the identification and analysis of housing need. The NIHE’s assessment is incorporated into the Social Housing Development Programme (SHDP) as described at Appendix: 2 to Part 2.
1.02Formal NIHE Support for Housing Need – for all housing for rent schemes, before the NIHE (DPG) will consider an application for Project Approval the Association must obtain written confirmation of the need and the proposed timetable for meeting that need from the appropriate Area Planner. This includes:
- New build schemes;
- Rehabilitation and Re-improvement schemes;
- Off-the-Shelf and Existing Satisfactory Purchases; and
- Properties provided using the Association’s Disposals Proceeds Fund (DPF)
[Note: The only exceptions to this requirement are in the cases of Existing Satisfactory Purchases (ESPs) or properties for rehabilitation for general needs use, where the Association’s acquisitions are part of a plan agreed by the NIHE and approved by the DSD. This procedure was mainly used during the work on Housing Action Areas but remains available should its use be thought necessary by NIHE / DSD.]
1.03Procedures for Site Registration and Obtaining NIHE Support - if an Association has proposals for the development of a specific site:
- A written request for the registration of the site (using the Form S1 shown in Appendix: 3 to Part 2, Annex A)
- Confirmation that the proposal would address a clearly identified housing need (See Para 1.04 ‘Minimum Information Requirements’)
should be submitted in the first instance to:
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Head of Development
Development Programme Group
4th Floor, The Housing Centre
2 Adelaide Street
Belfast
BT2 8PB
The site registration will be processed by Development Programme Group staff, who will then forward the enquiry to the appropriate Housing Executive Area Planning office, which will undertake the assessment of housing need and liaise with the Association regarding the housing mix, scheme type, development timetable etc. A list of Area Planner contact details is shown at Annex A.
1.04Minimum Information Requirements - it is crucial at this stage that the Association has a clear view of the scheme which it would hope to promote and that this view is conveyed to the NIHE with as much background information as possible. Time taken at this stage will avoid the need for the NIHE to request further information and thus delay its reply. In addition it will minimise the need for changes in scheme content at a later stage, which would require fresh consultation. While requirements will vary from scheme to scheme, the following minimum information must be included in each consultation letter to the NIHE:
a. The address of the scheme and a site location map;
b. The Need Group(s) which the scheme is designed to meet (for example, Category 2 sheltered accommodation for the elderly, general needs, physically disabled persons, single homeless etc);
c. Whether the proposal is for new build or rehabilitation;
d. The numbers of units to be provided broken down by housing mix (for example, 3 x 1 person 1 bedroom units, 2 x 2 person 1 bedroom units etc);
e. Whether a warden or other support staff are to be provided;
f. Whether any additional facilities are to be provided (for example common rooms in a Category 1 scheme for the elderly);
g. The development timetable, ie date of acquisition (or confirmation that the site is already owned by the Association), date of start on site and date of practical completion;
The NIHE will then decide, taking all the relevant factors into account whether it can support the need for the proposal and proposed development timetable and will write to the Association accordingly. Copies of the Association’s consultation letter to the NIHE Area Planner and the positive reply must accompany the application for Project Approval to the NIHE (DPG).
1.05It is the responsibility of the NIHE - to decide whether there is a need for the proposal within the proposed development timetable. If a scheme is not supported by the NIHE (Area Planner), it will not be accepted for inclusion in the SHDP. It should be noted that the NIHE (DPG) will not normally accept a letter of formal support for housing need, which is more than one year old at the date of receipt of the application for Project Approval.
1.06Need Groups – details of the various need groups applicable to housing for rent are included at Annex B.
1.07Supported Housing - the NIHE, as lead organisation responsible for the delivery of the Supporting People Programme has, in partnership with the 4 Health & Social Services Boards, their Trusts, and the Probation Board, established a joint Planning and Commissioning Framework for supported housing and housing support services. This involved the creation of a Supporting People Commissioning Body (with representatives from the 4 Health & Social Services Boards, the Probation Board, and the Housing Executive), and the establishment of 4 Area Supporting People Partnerships.
1.08Area Supporting People Partnerships - matching the operational areas of each of the 4 Health & Social Services Boards, these Partnerships include nominees from the appropriate Board, its Trusts, the Probation Board and the NIHE. The Partnerships are tasked with establishing the extent of supported housing need and assessing the relative strategic priority of complementary housing support services. The Partnerships also determine the need for accommodation-based solutions in their local areas. The Supporting People Commissioning Body is responsible for making definitive regional commissioning decisions.
1.09Confirmation of Supporting People funding - Associations should therefore only bring forward capital and revenue funding proposals for supported housing schemes when there is written confirmation of the need for the scheme from the appropriate Housing Executive Area Planner. All queries in regard to Supporting People funding should be directed to:
Supporting People Project Manager
3rd Floor, The Housing Centre
2 Adelaide Street
Belfast
BT2 8PB
Tel: 028 9031 8413
Fax: 028 9031 8391
1.10Supporting People Accreditation Standards - Associations, or their partners, seeking to deliver housing support services will be expected to be able to meet Supporting People Accreditation standards and demonstrate the capacity to comply with the minimum requirements of the Supporting People Quality Assessment Framework.
1.11Housing Mix for Self-Contained Accommodation for the Elderly - in schemes specifically designed for the elderly, the NIHE (DPG) will accept a housing mix for self-contained Category 1 and Category 2 accommodation within the following parameters:
a.Category 1 (bungalows and flats):
Subject to no more than 25% of all flats or bungalows being 2-person/2-bedroom units, Category 1 units may be provided as:
- 1-person/1-bedroom bungalow or flat (35/40 sq m floor area band);
- 2-person/1-bedroom bungalow or flat (50/55 sq m floor area band);
- 2-person/2-bedroom bungalow or flat (55/60 sq m floor area band); and/or
- 3-person/2-bedroom bungalow or flat (60/65) sq m floor area band).
[Note: 3-person/2-bedroom bungalow or flat provision will not attract the supplementary multiplier for common room and or associated communal facilities.]
b.Category 2 Flats (and Category 1 flats where a resident or non-resident warden is linked directly to the scheme):
Subject to no more than 25% of all flats being 2-person/2-bedroom units, Category 2 units may be provided as:
- 1-person/1-bedroom bungalow or flat (35/40 sq m floor area band);
- 2-person/1-bedroom bungalow or flat (50/55 sq m floor area band); and/or
- 2-person/2-bedroom bungalow or flat (55/60).
[Note: This housing mix would also include small (Category 2) type schemes where a block of up to 15 flats may be provided to full Category 2 requirements including common room and associated communal facilities, but with the exception that a resident warden need not be provided. However, a part-time resident or non-resident warden must be linked directly to the scheme. [Note: the scheme being linked to a central emergency alarm facility would not satisfy the requirement for a ‘part-time, non-resident warden’].
Associations should proceed on the basis of the above parameters. Where an Association wishes to modify the above criteria a detailed case must be made to the NIHE (DPG) at the earliest possible opportunity.
1.12Bungalow & Single Storey Provision and the need for Higher Density Development - Associations should note that with effect from 1st April 2007 restrictions apply to bungalow and single storey development in social housing provision. Generally, residential building land is in short supply and expensive – having increased approximately by 250% in 3-years, and by approximately 1200% in 10-years. As bungalow/single storey provision is wasteful in land use required compared to other forms of development, in future it will only be grant-aided in very exceptional circumstances, e.g., where the Association can demonstrate that an alternative design solution would not be appropriate for the need or where specific planning restrictions apply. There is also the need generally to provide higher density development in all schemes in order to maximise the potential of the site and to ensure that schemes are economical, efficient and sustainable. Further information on density is contained in Appendix: 1 to Part 3 of the HA Guide, Annex D.
1.13Acquisition of Tenanted Property from Other Public Sector Bodies – NIHE (DPG) ‘consent in-principle’ approval will normally be required for the acquisition of tenanted property from other public sector bodies.
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