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Northern Ireland has exceeded a four-year target for housebuilding, according to figures released yesterday.
Housing statistics released by the Department for Social Development show the number of new homes started rose by 55% to 2,103 in 2014/15, compared to 1,299 in the previous year.
The government in 2011 set a target of starting 6,000 units of social housing and 2,000 affordable homes by April 2015.
A total of 10,066 homes were started over the period, with 6,101 for social rent and 3,965 for shared ownership.
Cameron Watt, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations, said the sector had overcome a number of challenges to meet the target, including sectarian opposition to mixed community developments.
He said: “In spite of all the issues around land supply and local opposition, we are sustaining a healthy new build programme.
“Relative to population size, the size of the housing association sector and the waiting list, the new build programme in Northern Ireland is by far the most ambitious in relative terms of the four UK regions.”