A £210 million building programme has led to 1,765 new social housing starts across Northern Ireland during the 2025/26 period. This represents a 17% rise in delivery compared to the previous year, following what has been described as the largest ever investment in the Social Housing Development Programme.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons highlighted the figures during a visit to a new Choice Housing development at Minorca Avenue in Carrickfergus. Meeting with residents Lyndsay and Darren Carr, the Minister reaffirmed his commitment to tackling the housing waiting list.

Minister Lyons stated: "I am pleased to see the increased provision of new social home starts which follows my securing of the largest investment ever in the Social Housing Development Programme. It reflects my clear commitment to helping people and families waiting for homes. I remain committed to doing all I can to deliver this, as there is still much more to do. I have introduced grant rates that challenge our Housing Associations to produce more homes per pound of public funding, and I will continue to work with Executive colleagues and partners to meet our shared goal of a warm, safe, affordable home for everyone."

The Minister also emphasised the role of the Executive Housing Supply Strategy, which aims to deliver at least 100,000 new homes by 2039, with social housing making up at least one-third of that figure. To support this, reviews are currently underway regarding grant levels and building standards. He added: "I want to acknowledge the dedication and tremendous efforts made by officials, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Housing Associations to build more social homes across Northern Ireland. While challenges remain, the focus is very much on working in close partnership with our delivery partners to build on what has gone before and sustain momentum. That is why I have initiated reviews of both the grant we pay to build new social homes as well as the standards we ask associations to build them to. These reviews will ensure that public funding is deployed effectively to support the faster delivery of new homes while maintaining high standards of quality. Despite the financial constraints and challenges faced, meaningful progress is being made. Housing is one of my top priorities and I am determined to deliver real results for those most in need."

The progress was welcomed by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) and the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA), both of whom noted the necessity of long-term funding certainty.

Nicole Lappin, Chair of the NIHE, commented: "The Housing Executive, Department for Communities and Housing Associations have a shared goal to increase affordable housing supply. Despite ongoing budgetary uncertainty throughout the year, we worked closely with associations, local councils and infrastructure partners to ensure we could get as many new homes as possible on site this year. This will be good news for many households on the waiting list, given the growing demand for affordable housing across Northern Ireland."

Seamus Leheny, Chief Executive of NIFHA, noted that the sector has remained in "problem-solving mode" to overcome planning and infrastructure constraints. Meanwhile, Michael McDonnell, Chief Executive of Choice Group, confirmed that Choice has invested over £130 million in new builds over the last five years and directed more than £330 million into the Social Housing Development Programme between 2021 and 2026.

New residents Lyndsay and Darren Carr, who moved into their home in March 2026, shared the personal impact of the scheme: "Moving into our new home in Minorca Avenue has made a huge difference to us as a family with young children. It's modern, comfortable and really suits our needs. This house represents a fresh start for us, and it has given us the stability and peace of mind we were hoping for."