Property professional body, Propertymark, has shown its support for the positive progress made in the investment in communities in Northern Ireland through the recently released ‘Shaping Sustainable Places Programme.
However, the body has stressed that new homes alone cannot sustain an expanding economy.
The Department for Communities, in a joint effort with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, has unveiled the Shaping Sustainable Places programme that intends to encourage growth and thwart a decline in communities, be they villages, towns or cities.
The 10-year programme intends to spend a total of approximately £150m in total from the three departments, alongside an extra £15m from local councils, to create long-term growth and prosperity by regenerating communities.
The consultation on this programme ends on 21st September 2025 in which Propertymark responded to.
In its response, Propertymark said that alongside building more new homes, the Northern Ireland Executive needs to consider the wider infrastructure that new build properties need in order to be attractive to live in and for communities to be sustained.
While housing has an important role in encouraging economic growth and social mobility, Propertymark emphasised that providing crucial infrastructure attracts people to new and existing communities, thereby encouraging the Department for Communities to take an ‘infrastructure first’ approach.
To avoid situations where local councils are pursuing housing targets without ignoring what is required in different locations for people and communities, decision makers must be able to prove there is a demand and/or need from the local community.
Finally, Propertymark said that developers will need the correct incentives to construct these new sites in order to meet the wider needs of the community, instead of undergoing massive projects that fail to provide more affordable or rental homes.
This can be achieved through incentives at a time when developers are experiencing surging costs.
Henry Griffith, policy and campaigns officer at Propertymark, said: “There is no sole answer to solving the decline of high streets and communities and Propertymark welcomes the acknowledgement that local communities require solutions tailored to each of them.
“When local planning is concerned, it’s essential to respond to specific housing need in order to ensure that new homes can be filled and to create sustainable growth.
“While we agree with the need for local councils to prioritise long-term solutions, any plans must have an element of flexibility to respond to new challenges.”
