Urban regeneration scheme to boost supply of affordable housing

A new Urban Regeneration scheme intended to boost the supply of affordable housing was launched on Wednesday by the Housing Authority together with the Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity.

The authority, which is allocating Lm3 million under this scheme, aims to buy existing and older housing, preferably in urban core areas, which can then be redeveloped and eventually allocated under shared ownership, sheltering housing, or social housing for rent.

Speaking at the launch of the new scheme, Marisa Micallef, chairman of the Housing Authority, said the authority would be concentrating as much on urban renewal as on new developments. This concentration of funds on urban renewal is a first step in this path.

Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina said the allocation of funding was indeed a welcome one as it had a three-pronged effect - it allows for the provision of more social housing to those in need; it breathes life back into village and town cores; and also allows for the recovery of previously existing property, as has already been seen in Msida, Cospicua and Floriana.

Data gathered by the National Statistics Office for Census 1995, shows that a number of vacant properties stood at 35,723. Vacant properties therefore make up around 23 per cent of all properties, although around one third of this figure includes summer residences.

More than 60 per cent of the permanently vacant dwellings are new or in good state of repair, and the largest number of permanently vacant property is to be found in the Grand Harbour area, which includes Valletta and Cottonera. A lot of funding is necessary in this area to improve village cores by refurbishing vacant properties and utilising them for many worthwhile projects.

The Housing Authority is focusing on the regeneration of housing stock in urban areas, but all areas will be considered. The main aim of theis initiative is to acquire dilapidated property for regeneration and subsequent allocate in under the authority's various schemes to meet the needs of its clients.

The objective is to focus on the urban core areas of Valletta, Cottonera, Hamrun, Qormi, Birkirkara and other localities. Clients are mostly concentrated in these areas, so by increasing the housing supply here, the authority is in a better position to meet its clients' requirements.

Three criteria will be used to assess applications from owners of housing units interested in selling their property to the Housing Authority under this new scheme: value for money, the regeneration of urban cores, and the specific needs of the authority's clients.

"A scrutiny panel, chaired by Architect Albert Borg Costanzi, will be set up by the Government to make sure the scheme does not lose its credibility, as past innovative schemes issued by the authority were initially received with scepticism", Ms Cristina said.

The panel, together with the Housing Authority, will study recommendations made, review offers, and be responsible for all final decisions.

If this scheme picks up, Ms Micallef said, the authority will apply for more funds under the 2007 EU Structural Funds for Housing. These funds will go towards redeveloping the properties purchased by the authority.

Property offered for sale should comply with requisites established by the Housing Authority. Owners have to apply on the prescribed application form which may be obtained from the offices of the Housing Authority at: 22, Pietro Floriani Street, Floriana, or from the authority's Gozo branch at: 25, Enrico Mizzi Street, Victoria, during normal office hours.