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It takes a village
How learning from neighbouring countries can help Northern Ireland find much-needed housing solutions
INNOVATION & IMPROVEMENT
Justin Cartwright
National Director, Chartered Institute of Housing Northern Ireland
Justin Cartwright
National Director, Chartered Institute of Housing Northern Ireland
Issue 74 | October 2024
As housing pressures continue across Ireland, north and south, innovative solutions must be found – and fast. Housing issues don’t recognise borders, and neither should the search for solutions. At the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), we believe in the power of cross-jurisdictional learning, where our members can share insights and experiences, drawing on good practices from Ireland, the UK and internationally.
A comparative look: Northern Ireland vs Ireland
In Northern Ireland, the housing sector faces critical challenges, from insufficient funding to the urgent need for decarbonisation. CIH Northern Ireland’s latest report, Tackling the housing and homelessness crisis, outlines clear policy priorities to address these pressing issues. Chief among these is a dedicated housing decarbonisation fund – something that Northern Ireland currently lacks, making it the only region in the UK and Ireland without one. A robust policy framework for residential decarbonisation also needs to be developed.
This stands in stark contrast to Ireland, where housing decarbonisation is a central priority. The Irish government’s National Retrofit Plan sets out how it will meet its ambitious targets for retrofitting, aiming to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 or equivalent by 2030.
The plan’s delivery is led by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), which has introduced comprehensive grant schemes and the One-Stop Shop service, making it easier for homeowners to access funding, advice, and contractor services for energy-efficient upgrades.
This approach has led to marked improvements in housing quality, lowering energy costs for homeowners and easing fuel poverty. The retrofitting program is instrumental in cutting carbon emissions and advancing the country’s shift towards a low-carbon future.
The Republic’s approach underscores the importance of integrating housing into broader governmental strategies, not only as a social issue but as a critical component of environmental sustainability and net zero.
Northern Ireland could learn much from this approach, particularly in how prioritising and securing adequate funding, alongside an appropriate policy framework, can drive significant progress in housing quality and reduce fuel poverty.
“Northern Ireland’s current lack of a dedicated housing decarbonisation fund puts it significantly behind, making this an urgent priority.”
Key asks: shaping the future of housing in Northern Ireland
The CIH Northern Ireland report emphasises three key policy asks that align with cross-border learning from Ireland:
- Net-zero housing: Establish a dedicated housing decarbonisation fund to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and ensure residents benefit from lower energy costs. Northern Ireland’s current lack of such a fund puts it significantly behind, making this an urgent priority.
- Adequate capital funding: Advocate for substantial increases in capital funding dedicated to housing. This includes reversing recent budget cuts and expanding the social housing development programme. The long-term economic benefits of such investment – job creation, improved health outcomes, and reduced public expenditure on emergency housing solutions – are too significant to ignore.
- Infrastructure development: Address the structural challenges facing NI Water to unlock essential investment in infrastructure. Reforming this body is crucial for supporting future housing developments and ensuring the necessary infrastructure is in place to meet growing demand.
A collaborative future
The housing crisis is a shared challenge across Ireland, demanding innovative and collaborative solutions. By embracing cross-border learning and drawing inspiration from successful initiatives like Ireland’s decarbonisation programme, Northern Ireland can make significant strides in tackling its housing challenges.
Our call for a dedicated housing decarbonisation fund, increased capital funding, and infrastructure development lays a strong foundation for a more sustainable and equitable housing future. It’s time to act decisively, learn from other nations’ good practice and meaningfully invest in the long-term wellbeing of Northern Ireland’s communities.
“The housing crisis is a shared challenge across Ireland, demanding innovative and collaborative solutions.”
