Housing Needs Assessment Role in Development Planning

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) will provide a Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) in relation to identified areas of the housing market to assist DOE Planning Service in their preparation of development plans. The findings of the HNA will be taken into consideration in the preparation of a development plan and will be updated at regular intervals during the life of the plan. The findings of the HNA will influence how development plans will seek to facilitate a reasonable mix and balance of housing tenures and types to cater for the identified range of housing needs. Such a mix should seek to encourage equality of access to all sections of the community and create more balanced communities and greater community cohesion.