Claims that Housing Executive offices in Derry are to be sold have been dismissed by the two public bodies alleged to be involved in the process.
In the past week, two local politicians raised concerns about suggestions that Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) assets, including properties and offices in city, could be sold off.
However, both the Housing Executive and the Strategic Investment Board (SIB), which was said to have been involved in the process, have said it is not happening.
In a statement, SIB said they were not ‘in the process of selling off the NIHE’s housing stock or the various buildings owned by the NIHE’.
“There was no meeting between SIB and NIHE on 13th September 2016.”
A spokesperson for the Housing Executive said there was currently an agreed process across the entire public sector to review property and property management.
“The overall strategy is to reduce the use of leased offices by public sector organisations and locate more public servants into publicly owned buildings which will be centrally managed by the Department of Finance.
“The aim is to reduce costs and achieve efficiencies.
“This is being carried out by the Department of Finance with support from Strategic Investment Board (SIB). Like all other public bodies in Northern Ireland, the Housing Executive's office accommodation is included in this project.”
The Housing Executive spokesperson said there had been no discussions about housing stock being moved to Department of Finance or SIB ownership.
“As part of the Housing Strategy for Northern Ireland, the Housing Executive has undertaken to transfer 2,000 homes to housing associations in order to deliver £100 million of investment to improve the stock.
“The SIB is not involved in this process.
“One of the proposed stock transfers is at Rossville Street. The Housing Executive is currently completing an Outline Business Case to confirm if the proposed transfer is viable. The transfer will only take place if the tenants agreement in a ballot.”
Photo shows the Housing Executive office at Collon Terrace in the Pennyburn area of the city.
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