Standard Conditions of NIHE (DPG) Approvals

Part of: Housing Association Guide, Development Guide, Scheme Approval, Information links within the Scheme Approval Guide

NIHE sets out specific conditions which must be adhered to in order to approve capital works projects.The following are standard conditions of NIHE (DPG) approval:

  • approval is always given on the basis that projects will be implemented as described and costed in the business case upon which the approval is based. If a Housing Association wishes to implement a project on a basis other than that approved by NIHE (DPG), it should consult NIHE (DPG) again to ensure that any proposed changes to the original business case do not alter NIHE (DPG's) view of the project
  • tolerance levels on cost are 10%. If it becomes apparent that the total capital expenditure or total revenue expenditure indicated in the business case will be exceeded by more than 10%, NIHE (DPG) should be notified as soon as possible and appropriate further action agreed between the Housing Association and NIHE (DPG)
  • the same applies where project implementation is expected to be delayed by more than 24 months by comparison to the timescale indicated in the approved business case
  • NIHE (DPG) should be informed as soon as possible of any substantial changes to the project which occur at any time after NIHE (DPG) approval is granted. This applies to both proposed substantial changes to the project, and to actual substantial differences in outturns compared to the assumptions in the business case. In this regard, a substantial change may be defined broadly as a variance of (+/-) 10% or more from the assumption in the approved business case

In such circumstances, NIHE (DPG) will consider the specifics of the case and decide what additional submissions are required e.g. a letter or addendum covering specific issues that require further consideration, or a more substantial revision of the business case.

If there is any doubt as to whether any of these conditions has been triggered, NIHE (DPG) should be consulted. In exceptional cases, NIHE (DPG) may stipulate or agree to different conditions.

With specific regard to capital works projects, client changes - particularly changes in design or specification after the contract has been awarded - have been shown to be a very significant element in cost overruns on major projects. In order to seek to minimise cost overruns, NIHE (DPG) will require projects to be re-submitted if:-

  1. the cumulative cost of client changes exceeds 5% of the approved budget (unless some other limit has been agreed with NIHE (DPG) to reflect particular circumstances) or
  2. the trend of drawing on the contingency margin is more rapid than in the expenditure profile established when the project was approved or
  3. more than 50% of the original contingency provision has been used for client changes or
  4. a significant new risk has been identified in the risk assessment on which the last approval was based

NIHE (DPG) approval of all projects limits will still be conditional upon:

  • satisfactory arrangements for PPEs in all cases. Where a project which requires NIHE (DPG) approval is part of a continuing programme, NIHE (DPG) may make the submission of a PPE a condition of proceeding with subsequent projects. NIHE (DPG) monitoring of PPEs will be conducted in accordance with Post Project Evaluations
  • Band 3 schemes - Confirmation by way of the provision of ‘as built’ drawings demonstrating that the scheme has been delivered as approved by DPG
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