An area of Co Down that has seen waiting lists for housing increasing recently was in focus this week as NI Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie visited Downpatrick to see at first hand potential sites for social housing.

In an area where sites for housing have proved hard to find, the Minister met with Councillor Colin McGrath who showed the Minister a number of surplus council and NI Housing Executive-owned sites in and around the Killough Road Community Centre on the Ballynoe Road.

The Minister said: "The number of people needing social housing in Downpatrick Town has increased significantly in recent years.

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"The number of applicants on the waiting list is now in excess of 300, with around half that number in housing stress.

"The Housing Executive has calculated that 160 new homes are required over the next five years, but despite our best efforts, sites for development have not been forthcoming," she noted.

"The new Ballymote Centre is planned for completion late next year and that leaves potential for incorporating the current Killough Road Community Centre with adjacent Council and Housing Executive lands to provide a possible development opportunity."

The Minister concluded: "When I launched the New Housing Agenda last year, I said I would leave no stone unturned in my desire to address housing need.

"I am hoping that this visit today, along with the identification of other potential sites, will eventually result in families being able to move off the waiting list much sooner than would otherwise have been the case."

(BMcC/JM)