North Belfast MLAs Carál ni Chuilín and Gerry Kelly have held a 'positive' meeting with Housing Minister Margaret Ritchie on the future development of their constituency area.

One of the key items on the agenda was the development of the Girdwood Barrack site.

A Sinn Fein spokesman said: "This was a positive meeting in regards to the future development of North Belfast. One of the key factors in this is the future development of the 26 acre site at Girdwood barracks.

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"Currently there are five strategic frameworks in operation in North Belfast however they are not contained in one overall strategic overview for full co-operation and efficiency in the delivery of the development of service provision for the north of the city."

The MLAs raised concerns over delays, similar to those seen at Girdwood.

"What is of benefit to the people of North Belfast is that that the Minister agreed to both look at the strategic plans for the North of the city and come back to us while agreeing that there is an urgency to see the Girdwood sites development brought to a conclusion," the MLAs said in a joint statement.

"Sinn Féin welcome the assertion by Margaret Ritchie that, at the core of any future development of Girdwood, is the delivery of housing and services based on objective and we look forward to future engagements on these issues with the Minister," they added.

(PR/JM)