PEACEPLUS Common Ground is a cross-border, cross-community social inclusion project led by Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA) in partnership with Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) and housing associations including Radius, Apex, Clanmil, Choice, Woven and Rural. The three-year programme will be delivered across the six border counties of Ireland and the six counties in Northern Ireland.
The project aims to support housing associations in their role as community anchors, helping to co-design and deliver programmes that promote community cohesion, inclusion, leadership and collaboration through a social housing lens.
The project was officially launched on 30th January 2026 at Clifton House in Belfast, bringing together representatives from community and statutory organisations, project partners and housing bodies. The event included contributions from senior leaders across government and the housing sector, as well as representatives from the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), funders of this exciting initiative.
Significant progress has already been made in preparation for delivery. A scoping exercise was undertaken by ICSH across the six border counties, engaging AHBs and key local stakeholders. This work has helped to identify local needs, explore opportunities for collaboration and highlight the potential impact of the project. Ten AHBs in the border region have expressed interest in participating, with individual profiles developed to map their priorities and areas of focus.
The scoping report is now complete and will play a key role in shaping the next phase of the project. It will support a more coordinated and strategic approach across both jurisdictions, ensuring that resources are targeted effectively and that the project delivers meaningful cross-border impact.
