Social Development Minister, Alex Attwood MLA, has secured the site of the former Andersonstown Social Security Office for 20 new family homes.

The West Belfast site has been vacant since the Social Security Office relocated to their new premises earlier this year and Alex Attwood successfully bid for the land to be transferred to Apex Housing Association from the Department for Finance and Personnel which considered it surplus.

Minister Attwood said: "This is good news for families waiting to be housed in Andersonstown as there is the potential to house up to 84 people on this site.

"When this land became available, I would have been failing in my duty as Minister if I did not act swiftly to bid for land in areas of significant housing need for a potential new build scheme. Those on the waiting list would rightly ask serious questions if I delayed and the opportunity was lost. It is clear that there is good support for housing in this highly sought after area and I am pleased to be able to deliver more high quality homes for the people of West Belfast.

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"I have made the money available for this acquisition to take place and have instructed Apex Housing Association to move quickly to formally appoint a design team for the site and to initiate a full consultation with the local community in advance of plans being submitted."

The former library site that fronts on to Slieveban Drive has also been declared surplus and offered through the clearing house system. The Housing Executive registered its interest in the site, and in the absence of any other public sector interest, Apex Housing Association has been nominated to develop this site for social housing. The library site will complement the proposed development at the former social security office site and will supplement the provision of social housing within 'old' Andersonstown where around 70% of the former Housing Trust stock has been sold off.

(CD)