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

Sinn Fein call for proper implementation of Article 40 to increase social new builds

Published: 21 November, 2007

East Belfast Representative Niall Ó Donnghaile has welcomed comments by Sinn Féin Housing Spokesperson, West Belfast MLA Cllr Fra McCann when he called on the Minister of Social Development to ensure any new housing developments across the north complies with article 40 of the Planning Act that compels developers to leave aside 20% of their developments for social and affordable housing.

Cllr McCann said:

"I have been informed that there will be a rush of planning applications by developers to try and beat the introduction of legislation to strengthen article 40 under the Semple review.

"The minister needs to move to ensure this does not happen. She needs to ensure that planners act on any applications which tries to pre-empt the introduction of stronger legislation, because the proper implementation of article 40 will prove a lifeline to those thousands of people waiting to be housed.

"The minister needs to make it clear that this action will not be tolerated. With some major developments planned in the next while, mixed tenure is the way forward, opting out of article 40 requirements should not be an option."

Niall Ó Donnghaile added:

"This is particularly relevant here in South and East Belfast where waiting lists for social housing are growing to crisis proportions. This is all while we await detailed planning submissions for the old Sirocco site. The Minister for Social Development cannot bury her head in the sand and pretend that a housing crisis isnt going to happen.

She must act immediately to ensure that where possible she is bringing pressure to bear on private developers to provide adequate social housing in any major developments."