A modest housing development in east Belfast has been given a welcome, but news that eight two-bedroom and nine three bedroom homes are on the way in Grove Street East should be only the start.

East Belfast DUP MLA Robin Newton said: "These 17 additional family homes to the east Belfast housing stock are extremely welcome and they will make a small contribution to meeting the demand for homes in the east of the city.

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"The homes are being built by Trinity Housing and will become available in February 2011.

"These new homes will make a small dent in the waiting list. However, more needs to be done either to refurbish and upgrade existing blocked up houses and flats or preferably new build homes to meet the demand.

"The demand for now unaffordable private sector homes has practically come to a stand still," said the Stormont Junior Minister.

"The private rental of homes and flats is growing at a rapid rate; with rapidly increasing rents reflecting the growing demand. Investment in public sector homes needs to be made as an investment in the future of the community," he concluded.

(GK/BMcC)