Long-term housing plan to be created for town

A draft plan would be created by December

Ramsey Commissioners have backed a move to create a long-term housing strategy for the town.

At its local authority meeting this week, board member Juan McGuinness proposed that a publicly-available strategy, setting goals over the next five, 10 and 25 years, should be created.

The plan would detail how housing stock would be refurbished, expanded and funded, with a draft strategy to be completed by its December public meeting.

McGuinness said the move would bring "stability and security" to the decision-making process.

'Rise in demand'

In his motion, he said there was an "absence of a clear, national roadmap" set out by central government on social and local authority housing, while demand for public sector accommodation in Ramsey "continues to rise".

The commissioners had a "duty to give applicants and tenants certainty" about the future of the housing stock in the town, he said.

He said the move would also enable a "transparent measurement of progress" and align decisions with the authority's long-term financial planning.

The creation of the plan, which would be reviewed annually each January, was an opportunity to "reimagine" the town, he said.

The final strategy and subsequent progress reports would be published on the commissioners' website and made available at the town hall to enable the public to provide feedback on the plans, McGuinness added.