South Belfast Ulster Unionist Assembly Member Michael McGimpsey and Councillor Bobby Stoker have welcomed the resolution of the legal challenge to the re-development of the Village area of South Belfast.

The redevelopment will see over £100 million being ploughed into the Village area which has some of the worst housing in the whole of Northern Ireland.

In a statement Mr McGimpsey and Mr Stoker said, “We welcome today’s decision to bring to an end the legal challenge to the re-development of the Village area of South Belfast.  For too long the community has been forced to endure unfit housing and lack of investment in their area.  We are delighted for the local community that the long awaited redevelopment can now go ahead.”

“We are calling on the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to bring together all local groups to work on the re-development plans collectively to ensure that the scheme meets the needs of the local community.”

Mr McGimpsey and Cllr Stoker continued, “We will be lobbying the Housing Executive to ensure the vesting required for the redevelopment goes ahead as a matter of urgency, local people have waited long enough for acceptable living conditions.”

In conclusion the local Ulster Unionist Representatives said, “After many years of determined effort by the local community this redevelopment and investment is an opportunity to ensure the future stability of the Village area of South Belfast by providing housing suitable for the 21st Century.