Specific objective

To provide better living conditions for citizens and make a contribution to social inclusion through raising living standards and generally improving the quality of life among disadvantaged and vulnerable urban communities.

Operation rationale
Within the framework of the Government social policy, the proposed operation aims to develop social capital by actively involving the people in the improvement of their own lives and by strengthening partnerships across communities, civil society, and public administration. Apart from the direct benefits in terms of improved living conditions through upgrading existing neighbourhoods, this operation will be expected to have positive impacts also on health, security, productivity and on community and household investments.

The housing estates in the cities are not completely built and there is a lack of sufficient and appropriate public works. The pre-fabricated buildings do not meet the normal requirements for living comfort. In some of the smaller towns the pre-fabricated buildings (housing estates) disturb the urban structure and the traditional image of the town. A continuous process of restructuring and modernization of the housing estates and the pre-fabricated buildings is necessary. That requires timely and well-focused policy and governance in order to save enough space for public functions and green areas.
The priority given to urban areas takes account of the effects of the severely deteriorating conditions on the quality of life in the target communities and also on the wider urban population. The problems of poorly serviced, unregulated, congested and environmentally hazardous settlements are more extreme and complex in the country’s urban sector and the issues of cultural, economic and legal integration within the overall social and physical environment of towns and cities are considerably more challenging than in the rural areas.
As an integral part of the National Housing Strategy, the operation will contribute to impacts across this broad interlocking set of elements, leading to long term sustainable improvements in the living conditions of the urban population as a whole.

Eligibility of housing:
The activities under this operation will be eligible according to the criteria listed in Article 47 of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1828/2006. Provided that the conditions of eligibility of housing set out in Articles 7(2) of R.1080/2006 and 47(1) of R.1828/2006 are met, interventions will be made as follows:

1. Renovation and change of use of existing buildings owned by public authorities or non-profit operators in order to deliver modern social housing in compliance with Article 47(2)(b) of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1828/2006.

2. Renovation of multi-family residential buildings provided that the respective intervention is listed in Article 47(2)(a) of R.1828/2006.

Interventions in multi-family residential buildings will be supported only after the relevant changes of national legislation encouraging owners to create associations as a prerequisite to solve some of the existing problems regarding the housing in the country.
With view to multi-family residential buildings the investments will be targeted after the expected analysis, findings and recommendations are prepared under MRDPW / UNDP “Demonstration project for Renovation of Multi-family residential buildings” which will provide good practices for implementation of Operation 1.2.

Expenditure of new buildings for housing purposes is not eligible.
Investment under this operation will be made in close coordination with those under operation 1.4 on the basis of the respective integrated urban regeneration and development plans.

Under operation 1.2 any refurbishment or reconstruction of buildings will aim at improving the energy performance, in accordance with Directive 2002/91/EC. The extent of using energy savings, energy efficiency or use of renewable energy resources in the projects will be an important criterion for selection of projects.

List of indicative activities to be supported

•    Renovation of the common parts of multi-family residential buildings as follows: refurbishment of the following main structural parts of the building (roof, façade, windows/doors on the façade, staircase, inside and outside corridors, entrances and their exteriors, elevator); technical vertical installations (water supply, sewage, electricity, heating, communications, fire hydrants) of the building;
•    Delivery of modern social housing of good quality for vulnerable, minority and lower income groups and other disadvantaged groups etc., through renovation and change of use of existing buildings owned by public authorities or non-profit operators;
•    Energy consumption audits and energy efficiency measures for all projects related to housing, mentioned above (e.g. thermal insulation, replacement of woodwork, local installations connected to central heating systems, gas supply connecting pipelines or alternative renewable energy sources). 

Beneficiaries
Public authorities or non-profit corporate bodies, associations of owners of multi-family residential buildings 

Last modified: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 2:50 PM