Drainage Solution could create a ‘Postcode’ Lottery in Northern Ireland
Writing in last week’s Belfast Telegraph, Garrett Hargan highlights the plight of a major Derry house builder who can’t secure a drainage connection for 2,500 new homes in the city (Bel Tel 16th?August) but this tragic situation is being repeated across Northern Ireland.
In this case the developer has been told by NI Water that there is no solution as they don’t have the funding to upgrade the Coshquin pumping station and their local waste-water treatment infrastructure.
But, as civil engineers, we give the same depressing news to clients on a weekly, if not daily, basis. NI Water are reporting a ￡185 million shortfall in funding in 2024/25 and a total capital funding gap of ￡1 billion in PC21 over the period 2021-2027.
The situation really is dreadful, and NI Water have already said they are refusing a sewer connection to 19,000 new homes.
To prevent the whole industry collapsing we have been lobbying the Department for Infrastructure to increase funding to NI Water and, at the very least, to bring forward urgent legislation to enable private developers to fund the major waste-water upgrades.
Whilst this is not ideal - as businesses and developers already face high costs - it is the only short-term option available to achieve development in some parts of Northern Ireland. There may also be the opportunity to share some of financial burden with other investors if the new scheme is designed properly.
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Anyway, it is welcome news that the Department has finally confirmed this week that its officers are beginning to look at the feasibility of contributions from developers towards upgrades to wastewater treatment works and sewerage infrastructure to facilitate development.
Notwithstanding the impact of this delay, to create a fair system (where developers only pay their fair share) it would mean that NI Water would need to borrow the money from the NI Executive for the upgrades as they collect the full amount from developers over a defined period. So, either way, NI Water would still need access to a new stream of funding.
However, the greater concern is that this funding method would result in a ‘postcode’ lottery where private developers are able to fund upgrades and potentially pass the costs onto their customers, but social and affordable housing will suffer as well as all the inexpensive community projects. This will particularly be felt in places like Derry where unfortunately there is higher levels of deprivation and the highest housing waiting lists in the region.
The facts are stark. At present 34 drainage networks are effectivity closed to new connections, so, even if the NI Executive was to bring forward new legislation to enable developers, business and government bodies to fund major drainage infrastructure upgrades the investment may be limited to some better-off areas at the expense of the less well-off regions or towns. ?
Therefore, politicians have a choice to make, either fund our public drainage systems properly or accept greater inequality.
Managing Director
6 个月Thanks for sharing Brian, Northern Ireland PLC has certainly lost the opportunity to be part of an exciting economic transformation without visionary government intervention and local political leadership.
Associate Director at AECOM
6 个月New developments are a long term impact on water and sewage infrastructure, requiring additional treated water supply, sewage transfer/ treatment and storm drainage management. For years the contribution for development connections has not reflected the work required to upgrade existing plant or provide for future maintenance. An adequate funding model is required to suit all concerned parties.
Tughans LLP Head of Environment and Planning Law. Chambers Band 1 and Legal 500 Leading Lawyer.
6 个月A really interesting piece. In respect of the impact of a developer contribution model on social housing - as Local Plans get adopted, more and more Councils require developers to provide social housing within each residential development, as a result I would hope that social housing wouldn't be "left behind".
Immediate Past President at THE CHARTERED INSTITUTION OF HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION, Also a Belfast Transport Consultant looking to change the world through new Infrastructure and Civil Engineering. #MakingBelfastBetter
6 个月A great article Brian summarising the current crisis we face. We all accept that every Department has funding issues and no one wants to pay more, but we really have no choice at this stage. We need to invest to avoid the return of “No Drains, No Cranes”, and this requires a new funding mechanism in the interim period.