Sinn Fein is calling for social homes to be developed on a site in north Belfast.

A BBC Spotlight programme revealed unlawful activity at the Hillview site.

MLA Caral Ni Chuilin said the allegations underline the controversy which has surrounded the site.

She said: "Sinn Féin has long supported calls for an independent inquiry into the decision by some members of Belfast City Council's Planning Committee to create a retail-only development at Hillview.

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"And earlier this month, we submitted a dossier to the Auditor and Controller General asking him to investigate why £1.8m of rates relief has been awarded to the owners of a site, given that an illegal market had been operating there.

"The latest allegations are further evidence that vested interests are at work to prevent this site being used for social housing.

"But the fact is that the Housing Executive has a statutory duty to build homes without discrimination. I reminded them of that again today at a meeting and appealed to them to vest the land in line with the clearly established need that exists in North Belfast."

(CD)