A housing association in Northern Ireland has acquired 30 derelict properties in north Belfast.

Clanmill Housing Association plans to carry out refurbishment work on the properties which will help reduce the number of people currently on the housing waiting list.

Sinn Fein MLA Carál Ní Chuilín welcomed the announcement, however she also called on the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) to upgrade more derelict properties in Lower Cliftonville.

-- Advertisement --

She made the call after the Chief Executive of the NIHE recently went to view a number of neglected properties in the area.

She said: "We have asked the Housing Executive to invest in these properties to ensure that they are brought up to standard so that local families can live in them," she said. "Some of the properties belong to the Housing Executive and some of them are in private ownership but they should be put to use given the overwhelming extent of housing shortages and inequalities in this area.

"We would also reiterate our appeal to all social housing providers to focus on increasing their supply of social homes in North Belfast to ensure the need for proper housing is met."

(CM)