Over 130 of Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) tenants in the New Lodge area of North Belfast have been included in a kitchen replacement scheme costing over £500,000.

The properties, which are a mixture of houses and flats, have been upgraded on a regular basis. As part of the latest scheme tenants were able to select their new kitchen units, worktop and tiles from a range of options and kitchen layouts were improved to accommodate modern day appliances. The look was completed with a new extractor fan and flooring and smoke detectors were also provided in homes that didn't already have one.

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Our North Belfast District Manager Malachy McKinney said: "The Housing Executive remains committed to improving housing conditions in the New Lodge area and this further investment underpins that commitment.

"Consultation is a key element of any successful scheme and to that end we have worked closely with the community and their representatives in the development of this scheme. On top of that our contractor, PK Murphy, appointed a Customer Service Manager to carry out one to one consultation with tenants before work began in their home.

"I'm confident that this partnership will pay dividends and ensure that the scheme progresses with minimum disruption for tenants."

The scheme was also welcomed by the New Lodge Housing Forum and their chairperson Liam Wiggins added: "Over the years the New Lodge Housing Forum has worked closely with the Housing Executive on a number of initiatives in the area, so we were delighted with this latest news. Not only will the new kitchens go a long way in helping to modernise these homes but they will make a real difference to the every day lives of the residents involved."

(CD)