Infrastructure Minister took part in a fireside chat
at the Beyond '26 Live conference in Cookstown today.
The conference brought together key industry stakeholders
involved in the development of new homes to discuss practical
solutions to unlocking housing delivery.
Minister Kimmins said: “There are no quick fixes to the
infrastructure challenges facing the north, particularly when it
comes to wastewater capacity. Continued engagement with the
house-building sector is essential to understanding delivery
challenges and identifying practical next steps which is why I
welcome these discussions today.
“So far this year NI Water has received over £500 million of
public money, which is almost 92% of what they asked for to
operate this year. My predecessor and I, through £30 million of
ringfenced allocations, have already enabled the unlocking of
wastewater capacity for 5,300 properties, which is above the
4,500 in Price Control (PC) 21 if it had been fully funded
to 2028 and it is only 2026. The second quarter of 2025 has also
seen the highest number of new house starts since 2018 and
construction output has reached a 15-year high in the North in
this period, outperforming Britain.
“Funding however is not the only answer - solutions lie in
partnership working and innovative thinking and I continue to
progress and deliver the three-pronged approach which includes
securing more investment for wastewater infrastructure from
Executive colleagues; considering the approach to developer
contributions; and bringing in legislation to provide for
sustainable drainage systems (SuDS).”
The Minister continued: “I also acknowledge the important role
the planning system plays in supporting the delivery of
sustainable development across the North.
“My Department continues to work in partnership with local
government, who are responsible for the determination of over 99%
of planning applications, and with key stakeholders through the
planning improvement agenda with the aim of enhancing the
performance and long-term effectiveness of the planning system in
the North. These measures and initiatives aim to improve all
aspects of the system, including the local development plan and
development management processes, to help ensure development is
facilitated as efficiently and effectively as possible, resulting
in better outcomes for the house building sector.”
