Construction work has begun on a new £830,000 business and community facility.

NI Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie visited north Belfast to see the project to build a state-of-the-art project for the benefit of local people in the Upper Ardoyne area of the city.

Builders are now on site for the scheme to build retail shops; community facilities for activities such as counselling, advice and alternative therapies; conference and training facilities for education and employment training and office units.

Margaret Ritchie said: "This is great news for the people of north Belfast. This project represents the culmination of years of hard work and vision by local people.

"I salute their efforts and welcome that my Department, and the International Fund for Ireland, have had the opportunity to help deliver a better quality of life for the next generation.

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"This project will help to tackle the social and economic problems that exist in this community. Alongside other Neighbourhood Renewal assistance, we are making real progress towards the regeneration of this part of North Belfast."

Anne Henderson, Board Member of the International Fund for Ireland, which contributed £357,227 to the Project, said: "The Upper Ardoyne Community Partnership has shown great vision in the development of this project and the launch is testimony to their commitment and continued efforts to build community capacity and promote social and economic advance in Upper Ardoyne.

"When completed the new, high-quality, affordable community and retail units will provide the potential to attract start-up businesses and create new jobs which will help to strengthen and underpin community life in this part of north Belfast in the years ahead.

"The Upper Ardoyne Community Partnership Social Economy Project will have a positive and lasting impact long after the Fund ceases to exist."

The project has been made possible through collaboration between the Department for Social Development, the International Fund for Ireland and the Upper Ardoyne Community Partnership.

(BMcC/GK)