South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Fears that HMO floodgates will be opened

Published: 7 April, 2006

South Belfast Sinn Fein MLA Alex Maskey is seeking urgent meetings with British Direct Rule Ministers Jeff Rooker, David Hanson and Shaun Woodward after it was revealed that a tidal wave of HMO's are expected to flood South Belfast.


Cllr. Maskey MLA said,

" As people will be well aware the issue of HMO's and the problems associated with them have been a major issue throughout South Belfast. Over the years there has been considerable engagement involving politicians, community representatives, residents, planners, the Housing Executive and Government ministers. The outworking of this was a virtual moratorium on the HMO issue, with applications being held back in the hope that BMAP would give a firmer direction on the development of this issue.


" The obvious result of this is a backlog in applications. I am now being told by the planners that it is extremely likely that this backlog could get the go-ahead in one swoop, effectively flooding the South Belfast area with a tidal wave of HMO's.


" I am seeking urgent meetings with British Direct Rule Ministers Jeff Rooker, David Hanson and Shaun Woodward to try and stem this tide. I will be stressing the fact that if this backlog gets the go-ahead before recommendations have been made by BMAP it will only exacerbate the problems which areas like the Holylands suffer. It will also set a precedent whereby many property developers will rush to get application through before BMAP makes its final recommendations on the issue. This would create an irreversible situation in some areas, effectively destroying whole communities".

ENDS