‘More social housing needed in rural areas’ – Fearon
Sinn Féin MLA Megan Fearon has said that she is ‘extremely worried’ for people seeking homes in rural areas.
The South Armagh representative expressed her concern after it was revealed that less than 6% of social housing built in the last year was in rural areas.
“In response to a written question the DUP’s Social Development Minister Mervyn Storey has admitted that in the last financial year, of the more than 2000 homes built only 119 were built in rural areas,” she said.
“The lack of social housing, coupled with the planning regulations for building private housing, is hampering the ability of rural dwellers to find a home.
“There are many people who have been born and bred in rural areas that are finding it near impossible to find a home and are been forced to move miles away from their families in order to do so.
“People who live in rural areas deserve the same opportunities as those in urban areas and this includes the right to be housed close to their families, so more land needs to be zoned for housing in rural areas.
Fearon added, “I have now requested an urgent meeting with the Minister in order to discuss a better deal for rural dwellers. It is important that we rebalance the amount of homes that are being built in rural areas.”
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