The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) has selected 15 properties to undergo refurbishment work across NI.

A total of £300,000 is to be invested in the project after the NIHE partnered with the Heritage Lottery Fund's Townscape Heritage scheme and launched a pilot project called 'Heritage in Housing'.

In total, 15 properties were selected to receive funding located within the six designated conservation areas in Portaferry, Richhill, Derry/Londonderry, Ballymoney, Donaghadee and Carrickfergus.

Almost £100,000 was invested into properties in 2015/16 and £200,000 in 2016/17 on a three-year programme aiming to be completed in 2017/18.

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NIHE's Director for Regional Services, Siobhan McCauley, said: "The aim of the Heritage in Housing initiative is to reinstate empty properties, addressing blight and promoting affordable housing within town centres.

"A list of 65 potentially suitable properties across Northern Ireland were shortlisted, with 15 properties selected for refurbishment. By investing in empty properties in urban areas, this will stimulate economic activity with areas populated after business hours."

Angela Lavin, Casework Manager of Heritage Lottery Fund NI said: "Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) invests a huge amount of National Lottery players' money to make communities better places to live and work. An area's culture and heritage is important not just for its own sake, but it can also boost jobs and local economies, improve education and life chances and promote community cohesion and wellbeing.

"Our grant programmes including Townscape Heritage and Heritage Enterprise have been important tools for bringing out the distinctiveness of our towns and cities. We were delighted that the Housing Executive has been able to work alongside us with their Heritage in Housing programme."

(CD/LM)