Infrastructure Minister has secured £11million in June Monitoring
which will help unlock wastewater capacity across the north.
This includes releasing capacity to enable over 2000 new homes as
part of the H2 project in the city to connect in the next 2-3
years and another 1000 in the Waterside area.
On a visit to the city, Minister Kimmins said: “I
am determined to do all that I can to unlock wastewater capacity
across the whole of the North. I have secured additional funding
in June monitoring which will help release capacity to enable
around 3000 new connections for the city in the years to come. A
cross departmental working group led by my department and working
in collaboration with NI Water and the NI Housing
Executive has identified a range of housing projects to
unlock wastewater capacity for housing connections and this
includes these connections for the Derry area.
“This means since Autumn 2024 my Department has been able
to unlock wastewater capacity to enable future wastewater
connections for almost 5,000 new homes, with 2,300 new wastewater
connections already enabled through the allocation of an
additional £19.5million to NI Water from October
monitoring.
“As I announced last week, additional funding is just one
approach. NI Water's application of innovative solutions to
wastewater treatment in Newry will also connect another 400
properties to the network and unlocking vital economic growth for
the region. I am encouraged that the company is seeking to
develop this innovation for other areas in the North where
getting connections is an issue.
"We continue to face challenges in the delivery of water
and waste-water and I am continuing with my three-pronged plan to
tackle this issue. This involves working with Executive
colleagues to get the necessary funding for this essential
service. I have taken forward a consultation on developer
contributions which has just closed and I have in recent weeks
introduced a SuDS new bill which will make provision for SuDS to
the Assembly.
“This development in Derry and recent innovative work in
Newry demonstrate what is possible. 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.”
Notes to editors:
- Over 3000 properties will be connected to the sewage system
from June monitoring funding to include Derry (H2 – 2000 &
the Waterside area of the City - 1000 ), Strabane (100), Sion
Mills (30) and Dromore (500)
