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New homes benefit from extra waste water funding

DfI Liz Kimmins stands in front of a house currently under sconstruction. It is covered by scaffolding. Kimmins is wearing a high viz yellow jacket and black blouse. She is smiling and has short brown hairDfI
Liz Kimmins says the money will free up capacity in the system

More than 3,000 new homes in Londonderry are to be among the first to benefit from extra government funding to improve Northern Ireland's waste water system.

It comes after £11m was allocated to the Department for Infrastructure in the June monitoring round – Stormont's system of reviewing budgets and reallocating money.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said the extra money would help "release capacity" within the system.

In June a report found there was a "huge problem" with the level of water infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

Speaking in Derry on Monday, Kimmins said she was "determined to do all that I can to unlock wastewater capacity across the whole of the North".

"Working in partnership with NI Water and others, I will continue to take every opportunity we have to ensure wastewater connections are available to support the development of housing and the wider economy," the Sinn Féin politician said.

The additional money from the June monitoring round will benefit 1,000 homes in Derry's Waterside, a further 100 in Strabane, 30 in Sion Mills and 2,000 in Derry's cityside.

That includes The Cashel development on land between Whitehouse Road and the Coshquin area of Derry.

The Braidwater Group A group of seven people, all in hard hats and yellow high viz jackets stand in front of a house that is under construction. the house is covered by scaffolding.The Braidwater Group
The Cashel is being developed close to the border with County Donegal

Patrick McGinnis, from developer The Braidwater Group, said he "warmly welcomed" the minister's announcement.

"The focus now must be on the next steps and ensuring work can be progressed at pace so that much-needed housing can be delivered without further delay," he said.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where households do not pay directly for their water.

Instead, NI Water receives a government subsidy which diverts more than £300m annually from the Stormont Executive's budget.

However, persistent underfunding of NI Water has led to a shortfall in wastewater infrastructure, which in turn, is limiting house building.

Last year NI Water said an outdated and at capacity sewage network was stalling construction of new homes, businesses and public buildings in 23 towns across Northern Ireland.