AQW 21580/17-22

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 07/07/2021
Answered On Date: 19/07/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for her assessment of the impacts of constraints in the water and wastewater network on housebuilding in East Antrim.

Answer:

I have previously advised, in my responses to AQWs 16423/17-22, 18019/17-22, 18085/17-22, 18670/17-22, 18672/17-22 and 18748/17022 on infrastructure capacity constraints in East Antrim. No drinking water capacity issues have been identified in the East Antrim area. However wastewater capacity issues have been identified in parts of the Larne, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Greenisland, Ballycarry, Portglenone, Tully Road (Carnlough and Glenarm), Whitehead/Ballystrudder/Ballycarry, Cushendall and Cushendun areas. Of the Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW) located in the East Antrim constituency area (excluding Larne WwTW), the Mullaghboy WwTW is currently operating above its design capacity. In the Whitehead, Ballystrudder, Ballycarry, Tully Road (Carnlough and Glenarm), Cushendall and Cushendun areas, issues relate to the sewers nearing capacity.

In these areas NI Water will work with developers, and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, to consider alternative solutions and look at all available options. Developers should engage with NI Water’s Developer Services Solution Engineering Team, which will conduct a more detailed analysis of the wastewater system and, if required, investigate potential developer led solutions to address capacity issues.

NI Water is a statutory consultee in the planning process and it provides responses to planning applications based on a range of criteria including on whether there is capacity in the sewerage system to accept new connections. NI Water can consider the provision of positive planning responses where developers can demonstrate the following (including calculations): (a) like for like development, (b) extant previously approved development (where NI Water has given a positive response) and (c) where the development will offer a reduced loading on the sewer network, which may include storm separation and/or attenuation. However, it should be noted that local planning is the remit of local councils. NI Water provides information and advice to the appropriate local council and the council is obliged to take that advice into consideration but the councils ultimately make the planning decisions which may, or may not, reflect the advice provided by NI Water.

NI Water has advised that it’s PC21 (2021-2027) infrastructure plans for the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council area require approximately £100 million pounds of investment to upgrade wastewater assets. This is over and above essential base maintenance investment associated with its assets during PC21. This investment will make a significant contribution to addressing the sewer and wastewater capacity issues and help facilitate new housing development in Mid and East Antrim.

I have allocated £344.5 million for funding essential water and sewerage services in 2021-2022, fully funding the first year of PC21, and continue to present the need to commit sufficient pubic funds for the reminder of the PC21 period to Executive colleagues.