South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Maskey calls upon Minister to clarify reasons for failure of Curzon housing discussions

Published: 2 March, 2009

South Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey has called upon the Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie to clarify why discussions aimed at ensuring that housing on the former Curzon cinema site in Ballynafeigh were of mixed tenure have come to nothing.


The South Belfast MLA was speaking after last week attending a meeting of the Ulidia Residents Association where it was revealed that discussions about the site had came to nothing.


The South Belfast MLA said,

"There will be those who will be disappointed to learn that the discussions around the use of the former Curzon cinema site as a mixed tenure development have come to nothing.


"While I acknowledge that there exists a variety of views as to the use of this particular development I believe that all would welcome this site being fully used, and fully occupied. An empty shell of unoccupied housing is not good for the local area or local economy.


"This is an area of high demand for housing; both social and affordable, particularly for young families who are struggling to get on the property ladder. There were many who felt that this development could have gone some way towards meeting some of the housing demand in the area.


"I would call upon the Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie to clarify why the discussions aimed at securing some of the housing on this site for social and affordable housing have come to nothing".

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