Northern Ireland is set to benefit from a £3.4 million funding injection to support the delivery of new social and affordable homes, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has confirmed.
The funding comes as part of a wider £100 million payment announced by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), aimed at boosting social housing across the UK.
The funds are being contributed by seven GB-based housebuilders who have offered a package of commitments in response to a CMA investigation. These proposals are currently subject to consultation until 24 July 2025.
Welcoming the announcement, Minister Lyons said:
“I welcome the CMA’s announcement that the £100m payment will be distributed across the UK, and that we can use these funds to boost delivery of social housing here.
“Given the very challenging budget environment and the ambitious target for social housing delivery within the Executive’s Programme for Government, I am pleased to confirm that NI’s share of this money – expected to be around £3.4 million – will be used to deliver more social homes, as soon as possible and preferably within this financial year.”
The additional funding comes at a crucial time for Northern Ireland, as the Department for Communities and its partners work to address high housing demand amid ongoing budget constraints.
“Social Housing is a priority for me as Housing Minister and my Executive colleagues as outlined in the Programme for Government and the Housing Supply Strategy. We are doing everything possible to deliver more social and affordable housing. This additional funding will assist us to deliver more homes for households in need.”
The £100m settlement follows a CMA probe into suspected anti-competitive practices in the housebuilding sector, with the proposed commitments from housebuilders marking a significant step toward rebuilding trust and supporting communities in need of affordable housing.
The Department for Communities has indicated it will act swiftly to allocate the incoming funds in alignment with its existing housing priorities, with a view to delivering tangible results within the 2025/26 financial year.