Social Housing in Castlereagh
Social housing in Castlereagh is low-cost rented housing owned and let by councils and housing associations to households in housing need, with rents kept well below market levels. Land to Homes aims to plan and build social rent homes on the sites it brings forward, working with councils and housing associations. We do not allocate homes: allocations are made by councils and housing providers through their own lists.
Castlereagh · BT5Register your interest
Tell us where you want to live and what you need. Free, no obligation.
Registering interest is not a housing application. Social and affordable homes are allocated by councils and housing providers through their own lists.
Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6248.
- Free to registerNo fees, no deposit, no obligation
- Hear firstIf homes are released near you
- Affordable homesWith councils and housing associations
- Clear informationTenure, specification and warranty
- UK-wideEngland, Wales, Scotland and NI
Homes we plan around Castlereagh
In County Down, Castlereagh lies about 11 miles south-west of Bangor (County Down); its central postcode district is BT5. The nearest other places we cover are Belfast (2 miles), Newtownabbey (6 miles) and Lisburn (7 miles).
People registering interest around Castlereagh can tell us whether they want homes for affordable rent, homes for private rent or one- and two-bedroom apartments. As Castlereagh is in Northern Ireland, applications are judged against the Strategic Planning Policy Statement, and the buyer of land pays Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).
Register for Castlereagh and we will contact you if we bring homes forward nearby.
Why work with Land to Homes in Castlereagh
Homes for the long term
Homes are designed for long-term letting, with durable materials, practical layouts and running costs for tenants kept in mind.
Whole-site schemes
We can also discuss schemes built entirely for a council or housing association, on land we bring forward or land the landlord already owns.
We do not allocate homes
Allocations are made by councils and housing providers through their own lists and policies. We cannot add anyone to a list or influence who is offered a home.
Part of mixed schemes
Social rent homes are often the affordable housing element of a larger development, secured through a planning obligation agreed with the council.
Planning in Castlereagh: the Northern Irish rules
Affordable housing delivery in Castlereagh involves three main players: the Department for Communities, which funds the programme and regulates housing associations; the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, which assesses need and manages the Social Housing Development Programme; and registered housing associations, which build and manage the homes. Co-Ownership provides shared ownership. Land to Homes can work alongside them by bringing forward land and building new homes.
In Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive runs the Housing Selection Scheme and the common waiting list for its own homes and those of housing associations. Housing associations, regulated by the Department for Communities, build most new social homes through the Social Housing Development Programme, which the Housing Executive manages.
| National planning policy | Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS, Edition 2), applied with retained Planning Policy Statements until each council adopts its Plan Strategy |
|---|---|
| Local planning document | Local Development Plan (LDP), made up of a Plan Strategy and a Local Policies Plan |
| Who decides applications | The 11 district councils, with the Department for Infrastructure deciding regionally significant applications |
| Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer) | Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) |
Questions about Social Housing in Castlereagh
Can I apply to Land to Homes for a social rent home?
No. Land to Homes does not allocate social housing or keep a housing list. Social homes are allocated by councils and housing associations through their own lists and policies. To apply, contact your council's housing team or local housing associations. In Northern Ireland, apply through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, which manages the common waiting list.
How is social housing allocated?
Councils and housing associations allocate social homes using published allocation policies that give priority to households in housing need, such as people who are homeless, overcrowded or living in unsuitable housing. Many areas use a shared register or choice-based lettings, where applicants bid for advertised homes. The details vary by council and by nation.
Does building new social homes shorten waiting lists?
New social homes add to the supply that councils and housing associations can allocate, which helps, but waiting times depend on local demand, turnover of existing homes and allocation policies. We cannot say how any individual household would be affected. Your council's housing team can explain local waiting times and your position on the list.
What is the difference between social housing and affordable housing?
Social housing usually means low-cost rented homes let by councils and housing associations at social rents. Affordable housing is a wider term that also includes affordable rent, shared ownership, discounted sale and, in Scotland, mid-market rent. All social housing is affordable housing, but not all affordable housing is social housing.
Are there new homes available in Castlereagh now?
Not yet. Land to Homes has no homes available in Castlereagh at the moment. You can register your interest for Castlereagh, and we will contact you if we bring homes forward there or nearby.
Read more: Social Housing · Guide: Renting a new-build home: tenancy rules in England, Wales, Scotland and NI