Showcasing Northern Ireland’s ESG on a European platform

Radius Housing recently hosted some of the UK and Europe’s leading housing associations and stakeholders to share best practices on the delivery of affordable and sustainable homes.

In November 2023, Radius and Belfast hosted the Autumn Conference for the European Federation of Living (EFL). The EFL is a consortium of European and the UK’s leading housing associations, universities and expert private businesses which specialise in all matters social housing. Members include Places for People, Clarion, the Peabody Group, the Wheatley Group and Cluid.

Whereas other European housing bodies focus on policy and research, the EFL seeks to share best housing practice and to create practical solutions to create more affordable, sustainable housing.

It comprises 70 members and associates from 19 European countries, with a joint portfolio of more than 1.3 million homes across Europe. The EFL combines the shared knowledge of member social housing providers with the cutting-edge thinking of leading associate partner universities, and the innovative work of private sector companies. Through events, research, and projects, EFL ensures that members and associates are at the forefront of innovating property and community development in Europe.

Radius joined the EFL with the intention of collaborating on projects and knowledge sharing across a broad range of topics including: ESG and sustainability; modern methods of construction; community investment; capital financing options; technology in housing; older people housing and services, to name a few.

The EFL regularly hosts workshops for topic groups as well as development programmes for young managers. A number of Radius managers have had the opportunity to network and participate in these programmes and benefit from the unique opportunity of collaborative thinking and problem-solving with peers from different countries and backgrounds. This experience has helped widen their perspectives and expand their personal networks such that they are better able to tackle the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

EFL members were keen to come to Belfast and not only sample the hospitality of the city but also understand how the region was regenerating sustainable communities, providing for its older citizens, maximising independence through technology and exploring the potential for AI.

In recent years, Radius adopted the UK’s Sustainability Reporting Standard (SRS) as a means of aligning an extensive list of community investment, governance, and eco-friendly initiatives and commitments.

Sustainability

In 2023, Radius further added the Sustainable Finance Framework approach as it became the first Northern Ireland business to draw down a £20 million Green Term Loan with Barclays Plc. This will help fund new developments designed to EPC-Level A sustainable homes. We were proud to win the Belfast Telegraph’s ‘Climate Initiative of the Year’ award in 2023 with the judges citing our “strategic and holistic approach” and further stating “Radius has delivered a range of initiatives to decarbonise both their existing properties and their newbuild developments as well as a number of other environmental improvements”.

At the event, the Radius community investment team were able to showcase their outcomes as they have been particularly active in all matters societal, promoting initiatives to improve tenancy sustainability; inclusivity, awareness and respect; wellbeing, education and employment; together with intergenerational biodiversity. Advice officers over three years have identified over £2.5 million of entitlements which have had life-changing consequences for many.

Tenants across Northern Ireland engage with Radius through a network of committees, focus groups and community-based events. Last year, over 10,000 participants joined 260 community events, programmes, and projects, jointly arranged with 110 statutory and community partners.

Radius’s much heralded Schools Biodiversity Project was one of several highlights in the year with 23 schools and 607 pupils coming together under the ‘Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful’ initiative, aimed at promoting good relations and inclusivity within the theme of better biodiversity. Older people took part in the programme adding an intergenerational dimension to proceedings. Radius is one of many local associations promoting shared living through the Housing Executive’s Housing for All programme covering new-build communities. No less than 14 Radius neighbourhoods have signed up to the government-backed initiative, each with detailed good relations plans, aimed at building respect and understanding and celebrating diversity.

In 2023, Radius commenced work on 94 new energy efficient homes on the former Gasworks Site in the Market area of Belfast. EFL members listened with keen interest to Fionntán Hargey of the Market Development Association (MDA) as he described the process of community engagement and the pivotal role the new development will play in the wider regeneration of the historical area of the city. Members would later participate in a discussion on the Belfast Local Development Plan and the ’15-minute-city’ urban concept whereby most daily necessities and services, such as living, work, shopping, education, healthcare, and leisure can be easily reached by a 15-minute walk, bike ride, or public transit ride from any point in the city.

Environmental Architect Sofie Pelsmakers gave her perspective on senior living while Marcel Staub of Lookthrough explored the potential for AI in a housing context. The conference attendees visited the Titanic Quarter and toured residential neighbourhoods across Belfast. They were captivated by the remarkable stories that contributed to Belfast’s complex history. They were welcomed to the Belfast City Hall by Lord Mayor Ryan Murphy, followed by dinner that evening in the Great Hall of Queen’s University, hosted by Kellie Armstrong MLA. Further presentations on housing IT, ESG, energy poverty, and assistive technology made for a memorable conference.

The Radius Housing team were delighted to be recognised at the Social Enterprise NI awards, as Social Enterprise of the Year 2023. This was in recognition of their “exceptional social impact and ongoing work with communities and partners, locally, nationally and across Europe”.

Their commitment to ESG and to building resilience across their shared communities is helping to sustain tenancies and improve the prospects for citizens across Northern Ireland.

Contact: www.radiushousing.org