Westmeath County Development Plan 2021–2027

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   HOUSING 3 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 65 management. Information is required on dwelling size, dwelling type, dwelling condition and stock pressures (occupancy/under occupancy stock turnover, etc.). 3. Estimating Future Housing Need and Demand. This is broken down into: owner occupation, private sector, below market rent and social rent.

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   HOUSING 3 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 66 Figure 3.2: Schematic of HNDA Approach

3. Page 73

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   HOUSING 3 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 67 3.4 Housing Legislation and Policy This section identifies and reviews the key legislative and policy instruments relevant to the delivery of Westmeath’s Housing Strategy 2021-2027. The NPF, Implementation Roadmap for the National Planning Framework and the RSES for the Eastern and Midland region are reviewed in detail in the Core Strategy (see Chapter 2) and are summarised briefly hereafter. 3.4.1 National Legislation and Policy Planning & Development Act 2000 (as amended) Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) contains requirements for all Planning Authorities to ensure that their Development Plans are consistent with high-level strategic policies and population projections for the country. Planning Authorities are required to prepare and incorporate a Core Strategy that shows that the Development Plan is consistent with national and regional objectives under the National Planning Framework and the relevant Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy. Planning Authorities are also required to prepare and incorporate a Housing Strategy into their Development Plan. The purpose of the Housing Strategy is to ensure that development provides for the housing needs of the existing and future population of the county/Development Plan area. It is stated that: “…each housing strategy should have regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of an area and should be concerned with the overall supply of housing within the planning authority.” In particular, the Act specifies that the Housing Strategy shall take into account: • The existing and likely future need for social housing. • The need to ensure that housing is available for people of different incomes. • The need to ensure the availability of a mixture of house types and sizes to cater for the requirements of different categories of households, including the special requirements of elderly persons and persons with disabilities. • the need to counteract segregation in housing between persons of different social backgrounds. It is required that each Housing Strategy be consistent with high level strategic plans such as the National Planning Framework and the “Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness”. Planning Authorities are also required to demonstrate how the Housing Strategy aligns with the population projects contained in the Core Strategy and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Region.

4. Page 74

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   HOUSING 3 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 68 Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2018 A relevant recent legislative update with respect to housing is the Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2018. The Amendment provides that the temporary change of use of certain vacant commercial premises to residential use is exempt from the need to obtain planning permission. Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 The statutory context for the provision of social and affordable housing has changed under the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 which amended the Planning & Development Act 2000 (as amended). The amendments include that there will be a requirement for up to 10% social housing in developments in excess of 9 units. Further consideration is given to available social housing delivery mechanisms in Appendix 1. National Planning Framework (NPF) 2018 The National Planning Framework (NPF) is a high-level strategy that will shape growth and development in Ireland out to the year 2040. The NPF draws upon lessons learned from the National Spatial Strategy 2002-2022 and provides a framework for the sustainable development of Ireland’s existing settlements, as an alternative to an uncoordinated “business as usual” approach to development. The NPF contains a number of National Policy Objectives that support the delivery of residential development at a suitable location and scale to achieve an overall target of 550,000 additional households nationwide by 2040. The achievement of National Policy Objectives at a County level will be underpinned by the development of a Housing Need Demand Assessment (HDNA) by each Local Authority. A HNDA is defined as a “database which allows local authorities to run a number of different scenarios to inform key decisions on housing need and supply.” They will provide long-term estimates of future housing needs to support the preparation of Housing Strategies and inform housing policy outputs. The NPF lists a number of key evidence inputs that will inform and drive the HDNA model, based around: • Demographic trends, affordability trends and wider economic trends. • Housing Stock Profile Pressures, existing need and management issues. • Estimate future housing need and demand. The data requirements for these key evidence inputs are covered in greater detail in Section 3.4.

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   HOUSING 3 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 69 Implementation Roadmap for the National Planning Framework (July 2018) The Implementation Roadmap for the National Planning Framework (July 2018) highlights the Governments focus on achieving alignment between national, regional and local planning policy and practice. It addresses issues around the legal status of the NPF and provides transitional population projections for the period up to 2031 (as set out in Chapter 2 Core Strategy). It also sets out mechanisms to ensure that Development Plans will broadly align with the NPF and RSES’s to address the six-year period up to 2027. Project Ireland 2040 - National Development Plan 2018-2027 The National Development Plan proposes the creation of a new land management agency. This ‘National Regeneration and Development Agency’ will be established to work with local authorities, public bodies and the business community, harnessing public lands as catalysts to stimulate regeneration and wider investment. In terms of social housing, the National Development Plan will, through a planned capital investment of over €4.2 billion, support the delivery of some 40,000 new social housing homes by 2021. Direct Local Authority build, acquisitions, rejuvenation of formerly empty homes and provision by housing bodies are identified as the chief delivery mechanisms. By 2021, 12,000 social housing homes will be made available annually by Local Authorities and approved housing bodies for social housing. This level of provision is to be maintained over the remainder of the period of the National Development Plan, resulting in 112,000 households having their housing needs met in a social housing home by 2027. The NPF warns against the intensification of social housing properties in areas that are already dense with social housing and advocates the development of diverse neighbourhoods with a healthy balance of public and private housing. Rebuilding Ireland – An Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness (2016) Rebuilding Ireland specifically provides a multi-stranded approach to achieving key housing objectives, including to significantly increase the supply of social housing, to increase the housing build numbers by 2020, to service all tenure types, and to tackle homelessness. The Plan is designed to put in place the necessary financing, regulatory, governance and resource mechanisms and initiatives to accelerate the delivery of all types of housing supply - private, social and rental sector in places of high demand and acute shortage. The plan sets out five pillars for which a series of actions are planned to address the challenges presented by Ireland’s disjointed housing sector as follows; 1. Address homelessness, 2. accelerate social housing, 3. build more homes, 4. improve the rental sector, and 5. utilise existing housing. The Plan places focuses on the rental sector and the implications this might have for the tenure choices offered in bringing new schemes to the market. A declining rate of home ownership, decreasing

6. Page 76

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   HOUSING 3 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 70 household size, a growing population influenced by high inward migration rates, and increasing rates of new household formation are all identified as factors pointing to the growth of the rental sector and the increased role it is likely to play into the future. Importantly, there is also a notable change in terms of the public’s attitude to the rental sector with it becoming increasingly recognised as a longterm tenure option. The Action Plan notes that a strong rental sector supports a mobile labour market “better able to adapt to new job opportunities and changing household circumstances” and is suited to accommodating a range of households - including mobile professionals, students and indeed lowerincome households. Under the Action Plan, targeted social housing supply was increased to 47,000 units from the provision set out in the Social Housing Strategy 2020 (which set a commitment for 35,600 new units between 2015-2020) over the period 2016 to 2021 (at which stage some 10,000 units will be delivered on an annual basis). Furthermore, the Action Plan pledged to support the enhanced role of existing initiatives for Social Housing delivery and also introduced a number of new initiatives and schemes, as follows: Local Authority Construction & Acquisition (also known as the Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) To provide funding to local authorities for the provision of social housing by means of construction and acquisition. It also covers expenditure under the Rapid Build Housing Programme, Part V acquisitions, Land Aggregation Scheme and the Special Resolution Fund for unfinished housing developments. Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) To provide essential funding to AHBs for the provision of accommodation for persons with specific categories of housing need such as Homeless and Older Persons, People with Disabilities, Returning Emigrants and Victims of Domestic Violence. Vacant Housing Repair and Leasing Initiative This scheme enables local authorities, having identified appropriate vacant privately-owned properties in their functional areas, to provide upfront financial assistance to meet reasonable renovation works and to enter into long-term lease arrangements with property owners. Renovation costs will be recouped from rent over an agreed period.

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   HOUSING 3 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 71 Part V Delivery The Action Plan sets out a commitment to ensure adequate resources are made available to both local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies, to allow them to purchase or lease newly built private dwellings to the fullest extent envisaged by Part V of the Planning & Development Act 2000 (as amended). In addition, where appropriate, the leasing of additional privately developed dwellings beyond the extent envisaged by Part V is supported. Furthermore, the up-front purchase of the Part V social housing requirement will be facilitated, subject to the introduction of strict controls. Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform The Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform was adopted in November 2014 and sets out the framework for the delivery of new social housing and for social housing assessment, delivery and financing. The vision set out Strategy that “every household in Ireland will have access to secure, good quality housing suited to their needs at affordable prices in a sustainable community” applied to County Westmeath is an overarching ambition of the Housing Strategy. The national Social Housing Strategy is based on three pillars: Pillar 1: Provide for 35,000 new social housing units, over a six-year period, to meet the additional social housing supply requirements as determined by the Housing Agency1; Pillar 2: Support up to 75,000 households through an enhanced private rental sector; and Pillar 3: Reform social housing supports to create a more flexible and responsive system. Phase 1 sets a target of 18,000 additional housing units and 32,000 HAP/RAS units by the end of 2017. Phase 2 sets a target of 17,000 additional housing units and 43,000 HAP/RAS units by end 2020. The Strategy states that significant exchequer funding will be allocated to ensure that the early phases of the Strategy will deliver on the targets. An enhanced role for the Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) is also a key component to deliver the vision. The Strategy also states that a new tenant purchase scheme for existing local authority houses will be put in place. The development of an individual housing ‘passport’ that would facilitate tenant mobility between local authorities will be examined. Exchequer funding commitment of €5.7bn over the lifetime of the Strategy has been made by Government. 1 Increased to 47,000 units in Rebuilding Ireland – Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, 2016

8. Page 78

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   HOUSING 3 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 72 National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy 2018-2021 Published in 2018 the National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy supports Pillar 5 of the Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, drawing together relevant policy initiatives and actions to reduce vacancy in Ireland’s housing stock and bring as many habitable homes back into use as possible. To support this overall Strategic Objective the Strategy sets out five key objectives and relevant Key Actions to support their accomplishment: • Objective 1: Establish robust, accurate, consistent and up-to-date data sets on vacancy. • Objective 2: Bring forward measures to ensure, to the greatest degree possible, that vacant and underused privately owned properties are brought back to use. • Objective 3: Bring forward measures to minimise vacancy arising in Social Housing Stock. • Objective 4: Continued engagement with and provision of support to key stakeholders to ensure suitable vacant properties held by banks, financial institutions and investors are acquired for social housing use. • Objective 5: Foster and develop cross-sector relationships, collaborating in partnership to tackle vacant housing matters. The National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011-2016 The National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011-2016 sets out a framework of initiatives to provide for the housing needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged households. The strategy has nine strategic aims: • To promote and mainstream equality of access for people with a disability to the full range of housing options available suited to individual and household need. • To develop national protocols and frameworks for effective inter-agency cooperation which will facilitate person-centred delivery of housing and relevant support services. • To support people with a disability to live independently in their own homes and communities, where appropriate. • To address the specific housing needs of people with an intellectual and/or physical disability, moving from congregated settings in line with good practice, including through the development of frameworks to facilitate housing in the community. • To address the specific housing needs of people with a mental health disability, including through the development of frameworks to facilitate housing in the community, for people with low and medium support needs moving from mental health facilities, in line with good practice. • To consider good practice in the design, coordination and delivery of housing and related supports. • To facilitate people with a disability to access appropriate advice and information in respect of their housing needs.

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   HOUSING 3 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 73 • To improve the collection and use of data/information regarding the nature and extent of the housing needs of people with a disability. • To provide a framework to support the delivery, monitoring and review of agreed actions. 3.4.2 Regional Policy The Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) 2019-2031 Regional Policy Objectives for the region aim to support Local Authorities in completing Housing Need Demand Assessments as required under the NPF and provide for a diverse range of housing types and tenures. The strategy also set out to “Support local authorities, approved housing bodies and other sectoral agencies in the provision of a greater diversity of housing type and tenure, including social and affordable housing and exploring new models of low-cost rental and affordable homeownership”. In relation to Westmeath, the Settlement Strategy for the region designates Athlone as a Regional Growth Centre and Mullingar as a Key Town. The designation of these settlements under the Settlement Strategy for the region and relevant Regional Policy Objectives has informed the Housing Strategy for Westmeath. 3.4.3 Local Policy Westmeath County Housing Strategy 2014-2020 The Westmeath County Housing Strategy 2014-2020 provided a comprehensive review of demographics and housing demand within County Westmeath to inform the Westmeath County Development Plan 2014-2020. It projected need for the planning provision of housing, as well as the demand for social and affordable housing within the County based on data from the 2011 census and regional population targets. This analysis identified a requirement for 4,955 households during the lifetime of the County Development Plan. Given the difficult economic situation at the time the Housing Strategy did not envision Westmeath County Council building a substantial number of social or affordable housing units during the Plan’s lifetime. However, it was acknowledged that there would be a need for social housing irrespective of overall social housing output. In order to meet this need the Housing Strategy advocated for the implementation of Part V requirements of 15% in all new private housing schemes, as well as the continued implementation of the Rental Accommodation Scheme in order to leverage available stock in the private rented sector.

10. Page 80

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    HOUSING 3 Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 74 Westmeath Local Economic and Community Plan 2016-2021 The Westmeath Local Economic and Community Plan 2016-2021 was completed to meet provisions under the Local Government Reform Act 2014. It is an action-focused plan whose purpose is to identify and implement actions to achieve sustainable economic growth and improved social outcomes within the County. The consultation process conducted as part of the Plan highlighted the level of housing need in the County, particularly the provision of suitable accommodation for the elderly and travellers, and the need to address homelessness. It states that as of April 2015 there were 2,948 approved households seeking social housing in Westmeath, with 60% of this demand related to the towns of Athlone and Mullingar. Under Objective 3.4 Provision of accommodation and infrastructure to meet the needs of the community the plan includes a number of actions aimed at addressing housing need within the County, including the zoning of sufficient lands for residential development and the provision of 850 social and affordable housing units by 2020. Westmeath County Council Traveller Accommodation Programme 2019-2024 This a 5-year programme to meet the existing and projected accommodation needs of Travellers in the County. During the life of previous programmes all objectives and targets were exceeded including the provision of accommodation, the upgrading of Blackberry Lane Halting Site, Athlone and Michaels Park Halting Site, Mullingar, the recruitment of a Housing Welfare Officer and a Community Worker for Travellers. A Local Consultative Committee was also appointed to advise the Council on the matter of Traveller accommodation. The Programme provides an overview of Traveller Household Accommodation Types within the County, and according to an Assessment of Need determines that 95 units should be provided over the period up to 2024. Westmeath Disability Strategy 2016 The core goal of the Westmeath Disability Strategy is to meet the local housing needs of people with disabilities. It acknowledges the challenge particular faced by persons with a disability in sourcing appropriate accommodation through private home ownership, the private rental market or through social housing support. The Strategy identifies significant disability housing need in Westmeath, comprising; 190 persons requiring purpose built/design accommodation, 299 persons requiring their existing accommodation to be adapted and 106 persons that require standard accommodation with dedicated supports. It sets realistic targets for meeting need for the period 2015-2019 through a combination of council housing

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