Integrated Social Housing: Implications for New Build
by Brendan Murtagh and Shauna McDaid, Social and Community Sciences,
University of Ulster 2000
1.4.2 Stage 2 District market analysis
The statistical analysis revealed three clusters containing seven housing management districts where the conditions for integrated housing seemed to be appropriate. These were:
· Mid-North West containing Limavady, Magherafelt and Cookstown;
· North Antrim containing Coleraine and Ballycastle and;
· Mid-Down containing Banbridge and Downpatrick.
A common research format was adopted for each one, which included background statistical profiles on population change, by religion, voting patterns and housing need statements. Planning and housing documents were also interrogated in each district. This set the context for a range of semi-structured in-depth interviews with key actors in the housing market and community relations sector. This included, for example, representatives from the Housing Executive, estate agents, housing associations, the District Council, the Police and leading community development groups. A total of 66 face-to-face interviews were conducted for this part of the research.
1.5 The policy context
The need to deal with the detail of integrated social housing had, by the late 1990s, become almost irresistible for the housing authorities. Certainly, global currents in urban policy had emphasised the need to look beyond the physicality of housing in order to connect with problems linked to poverty and racism. But, at a more local level, there were important policy developments that raised the issue of spatial segregation and mixing on the agenda of a number of agencies. For example, the Department of Regional Development are finalising the Shaping Our Future Regional Strategic Framework for Northern Ireland to 2010. The third Strategic Planning Guideline (SPG3), of the thirty contained in the document, aims "to foster development which contributes to community relations, recognises cultural diversity, and reduces socio-economic differentials" (DoENI, 1998a, p. 32). The strategy adopted a dual approach that would facilitate the development of integrated communities but recognise the desire for communities to live apart. Providing neutral spaces, accessible places of employment and safe public transport options were promoted.
The Belfast Peace Agreement signed on Good Friday 1998 also made a specific commitment to promoting integrated housing and to help people have the right to freely choose his or her place of residence and to be left in peace there (The Belfast Agreement, 1998, p. 16). In light of these commitments, the Housing Executive set up a working group "to explore and put forward policy options in respect of the Executive's role in promoting good community relations amongst its tenants and in relation to the issues which arise in relation to segregation and mixed estates" (NIHE, 1999, point 1.0).
In May 1999 the Housing Executive published the consultation paper 'Towards a Community Relations Strategy' that acknowledged the housing management dimension to violence and community segregation. This included:
* intimidation and segregation are working against the Executive's policy of offering choice to applications;
* it can and has led to vacant dwellings in particular areas with significant costs to the Executive;
* the levels of intimidation in recent years has produced major pressures on the Executive in terms of securing re-housing;
* it is becoming increasingly difficult in some areas to re-house mixed
religion in households. (NIHE, 1999, point, 2).
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