The Ministry of Defence has been called to ensure the 199 empty homes at an army camp in Ballykinler, Co Down, are not demolished.

SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie said the houses would be better used to provide affordable housing for the local community.

She said: "There are over 21,000 people in urgent housing stress in Northern Ireland and such housing provision would be ideal for this sector in providing benefit to our local community. There are also many people in the local Ballykinler and Lecale area who are desperate for an opportunity to get onto the first rung of the housing ladder.

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"Housing at Ballykinler would also assist the case for the development of the community facility at the former Kindle Primary School which is situated just beside the gates of the Army base.

"Arguments about interference from the nearby training range are largely spurious when army families lived at this location for years, and housing has also existed in Ballykinler village just beside the camp without incident.

"Precedent already exists for the use of MOD housing for the local community at Ballykelly, Mahon Road, Portadown and Pond Park in Lisburn. As a former Minister for Housing in Northern Ireland, I was directly involved in such housing provision. In fact, I met senior Army personnel in Ballykinler some years ago and they indicated that they wanted to explore the option of providing social and affordable housing for that site within the wider community. Funding options with the European Investment Bank should also be explored for this project."

(CD/MH)