Five hundred mixed tenure homes will be built over the next five years in Northern Ireland's first eco-village.

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie today announced the plans for the former Grosvenor Barracks Military Base in Enniskillen.

She said: "My Department will undertake a £25m regeneration project on the site of the former military base there. We will build nearly 500 mixed tenure homes that will solve the social housing crisis in Enniskillen for the next five years.

"As part of this development we will deliver the first Eco-village in the North, introducing a new ethos in the design process, setting new standards of construction and bringing benefits to the environment and residents alike."

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The Minister also announced announced a £7m start for the Village area of Belfast, after recent protests over unfit housing.

She said that it was all systems go for work to begin to tackle the housing crisis in the area: "The people of the Village have had to endure sub-standard housing for too long now. I gave them my word that I would not forget them and now that my budget has been finalised I am delighted to have been able to set aside substantial resources for work to begin in the area."

Ms Ritchie said she is impatient for progress and wants to see the actions and initiatives outlined today "start to deliver us from this housing crisis sooner rather than later".

This new housing agenda will deliver more social, more affordable, more energy efficient and more sustainable homes. But most of all, the Minister said she wants it to deliver opportunity and choice for those who currently have little, and hope for those who have none.

(VB/JM)