Opportunities for NI Construction Firms & Consultants: Minister Launches Pioneering £61.5m Affordable Rent Programme

Posted: 16 June 2026

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons today announced the launch of Northern Ireland’s first Affordable Rent (Intermediate Rent) programme — a significant new pipeline of work for contractors, consultants, architects, engineers, and the wider construction supply chain.

This innovative scheme marks a fresh funding model that blends public loans with private finance, creating immediate and scalable opportunities in the affordable housing sector.

Programme Overview & Delivery Pipeline

• Scale: 300 new high-quality homes at rents 20% below local market rates.
• Initial Delivery: First scheme at Crannog Drive (Old Eglish Road), Dungannon (15 homes: 12 x 2-bed, 3 x 3-bed), with homes expected from summer 2026 (some in July 2026).
• 2026 Rollout: Further schemes in St Clares, Newry (18 x 2-bed apartments, Feb 2027), Drumnagoon Gate, Craigavon (25 homes, Oct 2026), plus Lisburn, Derry/Londonderry, with Belfast to follow.
• Longer-term: Delivery of the full 300 homes over the next five years, with potential for expansion.

The programme forms a key pillar of the Executive’s Housing Supply Strategy, targeting 100,000 new homes over 15 years.

Maple & May: Delivery Partner Profile

Maple & May is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Choice Housing Association, one of Northern Ireland’s largest housing associations. Established as a “profit-for-purpose” professional landlord, Maple & May specialises in delivering quality homes for rent and sale while improving standards in the private rented sector.

The company already manages a growing portfolio and partners with established developers across NI through Design & Build arrangements and joint ventures. Development Director Jon Anderson said: “We believe that people deserve great services and standards in homes and this is an exciting opportunity for Maple and May to deliver 300 new affordable homes across Northern Ireland.”

Maple & May will act as the Intermediate Rent Operator, handling development, management, lettings, and long-term stewardship of the homes. They are partnering directly with the Department for Communities on this launch.

Procurement Route

Maple & May procures construction and professional services through:

• Design & Build partnerships and joint ventures with established NI developers and contractors.
• Framework-style or direct tender opportunities for individual schemes.
• Emphasis on early contractor involvement for cost certainty, programme delivery, and innovation.

Action for industry: Construction firms and consultants should register interest directly with Maple & May, monitor their website (mapleandmay.co.uk) and Choice Housing tender portals, and watch for site-specific procurements starting with Dungannon and Newry schemes. Early engagement is recommended, particularly for contractors with expertise in residential new-build, energy-efficient design, Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), and sustainability.

This route offers a more commercial, partnership-driven approach compared to traditional social housing procurement, backed by public loan funding.

Aims of the Programme

The initiative aims to:

• Create a new intermediate rental tenure for working households who fall between traditional social housing and full market rents.
• Ease pressure on the 50,000+ social housing waiting list while protecting core capital grants for social homes (1,765 starts in 2025/26).
• Deliver high-quality, sustainable homes with up to 5-year tenancies, flexible deposits, and rents not exceeding 30% of household income.
• Test and prove a scalable blended public-private funding model (FTC loans + private finance) that can be expanded if successful.
• Support broader Executive goals: increasing housing supply, reducing housing stress and homelessness, promoting mixed communities, and delivering value for public money.

Funding Model – Attractive for Private Sector Partners

• Department for Communities: £61.5 million via low-interest Financial Transactions Capital (FTC) loans.
• Maple and May: £10.8 million private capital + ~£50 million private revenue finance.
• Total investment: Over £122 million.

Implications for NI Construction Industry & Consultants

This announcement represents a timely boost for the sector amid ongoing demand for affordable and social housing:

• Contracting Opportunities: New-build residential projects across multiple sites in 2026/27.
• Professional Services: Strong demand for architects, structural/civil engineers, quantity surveyors, planning consultants, and sustainability specialists.
• Supply Chain: Materials suppliers, timber frame, renewables, and smart home tech providers stand to benefit.
• Future Pipeline: Minister Lyons has signalled ambition to expand the model — positioning this as potential repeat business in a growing intermediate rent sector.

---

Full Sources

• Oral Statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly – Update on the Affordable Rent Programme, Department for Communities (16 June 2026): https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/news/oral-statement-northern-ireland-assembly-update-affordable-rent-programme
• Affordable Rent Scheme to Deliver 300 Homes, Department for Communities (5 March 2025 announcement, updated context): https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/news/affordable-rent-scheme-deliver-300-homes
• Maple & May Official Website (Developments & News): https://mapleandmay.co.uk/
• BBC News: Affordable rent scheme comes with 300 new homes (updated reporting): https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cddyzjm5y5mo
• Additional context from Lyons hails 17% increase in social home building (Department for Communities, May 2026): https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/news/lyons-hails-17-increase-social-home-building