Statement from Short Strand Partnership

Short Strand Partnership Board delighted at Housing for Mountpottinger

The Short Strand Partnership Board have expressed their delight at the announcement from the DSD this morning that the land left vacant following the demolition of Mountpottinger Barracks is be acquired for the purposes of developing social housing.

Interim Board Director Patricia Johnson, Chair of St Matthews Housing Association Patrick Devlin and local Sinn Féin Representative Niall Ó Donnghaile all welcomed the news.

In a joint statement they said;

“Our Partnership has always endorsed the position that this land would be best suited for the development of quality, social housing. We have been part of a long campaign and today’s news is no doubt a result of that hard work.

We look forward to seeing this land developed without delay.

Obviously it will be hugely beneficial for our community and once again we would encourage our neighbours who are in need of housing to ensure their name is on the Housing Executive’s waiting list. It is vital that we see this land best utilised for the common good of our community in a speedy and responsible fashion.

We have no doubt that our local, community based Housing Association, St Matthews, would be in an ideal position to take this exciting development forward.

What we need to see now is a meaningful engagement between the Department and ourselves in the local community.” ENDS