POLITICIANS have been urged to back plans to build new social housing in a deprived area of north Belfast.
Choice Housing has contacted Belfast City Council about the purchase of a car park in the Carrick Hill area on the outskirts of the city centre.
The area was included in the controversial Northside Regeneration plan, which suffered a blow in 2016 when the Department for Social Development withdrew support.
Campaigners and community workers reacted angrily to the blueprint which included plans to create accommodation for hundreds of students in the area.
It is understood Choice Housing wants to build 20 apartments and eight homes on the car park site.
The same association built several homes and apartments in the same area around a decade ago.
Frank Dempsey form the Carrick Hill Residents Association has called on political parties to back the plan.
“We are calling on the council and political parties to make this land available for social housing given that the north Belfast community has been dealt hammer blow after hammer blow,” he said.
Gerard Brophy from St Patrick's and St Joseph's Housing Committee has also backed the call.
Choice Housing spokesman Niall Sheridan said the organisation had “expressed an interest” in the site.
A spokesman for Belfast City Council said: “We have been contacted by Choice Housing regarding purchasing Little Donegall Street car park.
The council is considering the request within the wider context of master planning for the area and our citywide car parking strategy.”
