As the draft Programme for Government is currently out for consultation, we must look closely at how the government plans to support the built environment and alleviate some of the pressures faced by the sector.
It is really encouraging to see that providing more social, affordable and sustainable housing is one of the immediate focuses in this plan.
There are two key issues that the housing sector faces: planning delays and a deficit of wastewater infrastructure.
And I’m pleased to see the plan acknowledges these issues and seeks to create a planning system that allows for the delivery of the appropriate supply of housing.
Whilst it is welcome to see that the plan seeks to work with NI Water to help facilitate housing growth, we need more evidence on how the impact on housing supply and broader development will be addressed.
According to the most recent Rics & Ulster Bank residential market survey, respondents in Northern Ireland continue to be more confident when it comes to sales and prices over the next year when compared to the rest of the UK.
But as the residential industry continues to navigate ongoing challenges such as planning delays, skills shortages and the ongoing wastewater infrastructure deficit, the supply of houses remains a concern for surveyors.
Rics also endorses the retrofitting of homes that’s noted in the draft plan. We have a rich heritage here in Northern Ireland, and where possible, we encourage preserving the buildings that we have. Retrofitting provides an opportunity to achieve significant embodied carbon savings through re-use rather than re-build.
However, there is a particular challenge for the private rental sector in that landlords may well need financial support to retrofit their properties, and Rics would welcome any detail on how that is being considered.
This draft plan gives us insight to some of the great things the Stormont Executive seeks to action and support over the next three years. By alleviating some of the challenges faced by our built environment, we can create more accessible, and sustainable buildings for our local communities.
Our members bring vast expertise to the built and natural environment and will continue to contribute their knowledge for future planning and work collaboratively on further opportunities.
Rics is committed to working with the NI Executive to highlight the needs of the sector and showcase the opportunities that the industry offers.
By working together, so that we can build infrastructure to serve our people and economy.
- Garrett O’Hare, managing director of Bradley NI, is a member of the regional board of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics)
