Sinn Fein is refusing to support plans for a retail only development in north Belfast.

Housing spokesperson Carál Ní Chuilín has lodged a formal objection to the developer's proposals.

She said: "Sinn Fein along with other parties, local residents, housing campaigners and local traders have publicly voiced our objections to this plan for a retail only development at the 17-acre Hillview site.

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"In our view this is a prime opportunity for a mixed development in an area where available land is at an absolute premium.

"Therefore we have written to the Housing Executive requesting that they use their vesting powers to bring the site into public usage.

"We have demonstrated what is possible at the Girdwood complex and Hillview should also be used to tackle the needs of local people including social homes on the site.

"This is an area ranking high on deprivation indices and public bodies have a duty to invest in communities and not leave development of a site like this to the private sector alone."

(CD/LM)