£3m environmental improvement scheme for Twinbrook

A £3 million environmental improvement scheme has begun in the Glasvey area of Twinbrook, in one of Belfast's most deprived neighbourhoods.

The news was welcomed by Social Development Minister David Hanson MP, who said: "This is excellent news for people living in Glasvey, which is part of the Colin neighbourhood. It is clear that this major environmental scheme will transform the Glasvey estate, not only making it a more pleasant place to live, but also giving a boost to the social and economic regeneration of the area.

"The Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Belfast Regeneration Office have shown how organisations can work together to tackle deprivation in one of the most disadvantaged areas of Belfast and help to get neighbourhood renewal underway. Such co-operation to tackle deprivation lies at the heart of what we are trying to achieve through our Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.

"The Glasvey estate was identified through the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy as being in one of the 32 most disadvantaged areas. This significant investment by the Housing Executive and the Belfast Regeneration Office will complement the work that has been carried out through the Creating Common Ground Consortium over the past three years."

Welcoming the investment in the area, Paddy McIntyre, the Housing Executive's Chief Executive, said: "This is the third and final phase of the Twinbrook Environmental Improvement Strategy that was approved by the Housing Executive in 2001. Significant progress has already been made in this scheme which will take just under two years to complete. I am confident that these new improvements will greatly assist in the transformation of the area. It is not just enough to improve the fabric of dwellings, it is important that the local environment is improved so that local communities can continue to take pride in their own areas.

This £3million investment will not only enhance the appearance of Glasvey but will also help to address issues of concern to the residents, such as the issue of anti-social behaviour and the need for much needed privacy of individual residents."

The Belfast Regeneration Office is supporting the scheme by investing over £1.6million towards the provision of a new access road and other improvements.

(GB/KMcA)