Plans to spend £37m on the redevelopment of housing in the Shankill area of Belfast have been announced.

Speaking at the Shankill Convention on Housing, Stormont Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland outlined plans for 170 new homes and improvements for a further 2,700.

With other plans for the Shankill area in progress, the Minister is confident this investment will mean much more than the creation of new housing but renewed opportunities for local employment and training.

He said: "Of course, our plans can not begin and end with a housing only solution. Regeneration is about much more. My department is investing a further £1.7million into the area through the Belfast Regeneration Office. This supports 37 full time and 19 part time posts across the community, each playing a vital role in the provision of services to local people. We need to adopt a more holistic approach so communities can have not only better homes, but access to more employment and training opportunities that will offer them a better future."

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The Social Development department has already made a significant difference to life across the Shankill area and transformed derelict sites that will help people stay warm this winter.

The Minisiter concluded: "It is true that for many years the Shankill suffered from under investment and sub standard housing, but not anymore. The scale and pace of this work should reassure local people that the Shankill is not forgotten and that despite a difficult and troubled past it has an exciting and promising future."

(HMcE/CD)