Housing in the Village area of South Belfst

I am delighted that the Business Committee has afforded me the opportunity to bring to the Floor a major issue in my constituency of South Belfast. The Village area and wider Donegall Road community is an area that suffered from years of neglect under direct rule. Deterioration for 30 years has resulted in over 30% of the housing stock in the area being unfit for purpose in the twenty-first century.

Some of the housing in the greater Village area ranks among the worst in Northern Ireland. Yes, there are some very good houses in the area. For others, however, massive improvement is needed to address such issues as damp, lack of heating and no inside toilets, to name but a few. Although some areas were redeveloped several times during the Troubles, a community one mile from the centre of Belfast suffered and was ignored. It is in areas such as that that devolution must make a difference. Loyalist areas suffered greatly during the Troubles and we must now look at ways in which we can put right the years of neglect. Devolution — and we as representatives in a devolved Administration — have a duty to make better the lives of those who elect us. A basic right is that people have good housing.

This debate was tabled well in advance of the announcement by the Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie of her financial commitment to the regeneration of the Village area. I warmly welcome that commitment and thank the Minister for her interest in the matter. When I spoke to the Minister about the need for urgent action in the area, she was ready and willing to listen. Now that the announcement has been made, the community wishes to thank her. The community also wishes to thank the Minister of Finance and Personnel, my party colleague Peter Robinson, for giving the Minister for Social Development the necessary financial resources to give the people of the Village better housing. As with Ms Ritchie, I noted that Mr Robinson had a real desire to help the area in any way that he could. Some people pointed a finger at Peter Robinson for failing the Village: it is quite clear that he played a vital role in delivering for the area.

Amid the euphoria of some people in the Village community, however, others are concerned about how regeneration will be rolled out. The Minister for Social Development must try to alleviate the concerns of those people. They welcome her commitment to regeneration but are unclear how it will be brought about. I have sought answers on the matter from the Department for Social Development. I welcome the Minister’s taking the time to attend this debate and hope that she can provide me with some answers. I have not yet had any clear indication from the Depart­ment on the way forward.

I have received correspondence from homeowners who have no association with any group in the Village but who are concerned about what regeneration holds for them. They are worried that, after redevelopment, they might not get a house of a similar size to their current property. They are also concerned that a personal financial penalty will be the price paid for the regeneration of the large quantity of social-housing stock.

I urge the Minister to continue to press ahead with plans for redevelopment, but to attempt along the way to alleviate the fears of some who live in the area. Furthermore, I urge the Minister to make it clear when the regeneration process will commence, and to ensure that the community is kept well informed as the process is rolled out. The Department for Social Development and the Housing Executive must listen to the wishes of the community as they formulate the details of regeneration. Information, and how it is conveyed to the community in the Village, will be essential. We do not want hold-ups or obstacles. A community that is kept well informed about the decision-making will be the key to the whole process.

As part of the regeneration process, we must also address the massive problem of vacant properties in the Village area.

A large number of properties in Donegall Avenue, Soudan Street, Kitchener Street and other streets are blocked up. Indeed, many properties have been blocked up for a number of years. That is a major problem requiring urgent action. One of my constituents informed me recently that vermin can be seen in Donegall Avenue in broad daylight — an area that is home to young families. We must ensure that such risks are eliminated as soon as possible. Vacant properties become a breeding ground for vermin and must be dealt with.

I am encouraged by the presence of my fellow South Belfast MLAs in the Chamber. I am sure that they wish to contribute so I have no intention of hogging the debate. I assure the Minister that I will continue to pepper her with Assembly questions on the matter — at the infancy of the process and as it rolls out. All parties can unite around this issue, and there should not be any attempts to marginalise a particular party. The community must get behind what is happening. We cannot allow this great opportunity for regeneration to be lost; if that were to happen, the suffering of my constituents would be the cost.

The community is broadly behind regeneration but I accept that there are differences in opinion about some of the specific details. Therefore, I urge the Department for Social Development to treat each constituent with due care and consideration, and endeavour to alleviate their concerns. We want a sustainable community in the Village and wider Donegall Road area, with the quality of housing that the good people there deserve. The basic services that any sustainable community requires must also be in place. There is a large population in the area and yet there is no doctor’s surgery that is easily accessible for pensioners. That is one of the further aspects that need to be addressed by the Assembly and local representatives.

The most urgent concern is housing, but I assure my constituents that that is only one issue that I will be working on in an attempt to make the entire Donegall Road, and the Village, a better area to live in. I thank the Minister for attending the debate and look forward to hearing what she has to say.