Ex-barracks may be commercial hub

The police station closed in 2005

The government is to look at turning a former west Belfast police barracks into a commercial hub.

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said they wanted a focus for sustained economic development in the Andersonstown area.

The former Andersonstown Barracks was closed in 2005 and later torn down.

Earlier this month a developer scrapped plans for an apartment development on the site. Residents had staged a series of protests against the scheme.

The DSD is conducting a feasibility study into economic development opportunities for the area.

"It is widely recognised, both here and overseas, that economic regeneration is an important stimulus to areas blighted by deprivation and low levels of achievement," Ms Ritchie said.

"The West Belfast and Greater Shankill task forces signalled the need for a comprehensive approach to economic regeneration and recognised that west Belfast risked falling behind the rest of the city if inward investment and the growth of local businesses were not adequately addressed."

She said that the former barracks would be among the sites considered for the commercial hub.

Ms Ritchie said that the views of the local community would be "extremely important" in considering the way forward.