Development could be halted by deteriorating sewers

Housing and office development will be halted across large parts of Northern Ireland by further deterioration in the sewers, builders have warned.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Jan 2019, 12:21 BST
Updated 7th Feb 2019, 19:36 BST
A lot of work has been done to the provinces sewerage systems but more is urgently needed says the CEFA lot of work has been done to the provinces sewerage systems but more is urgently needed says the CEF
A lot of work has been done to the provinces sewerage systems but more is urgently needed says the CEF

East Belfast and Duncrue in the north of the city require significant investment according to contruction lobby group the Constuction Employers’ Federation (CEF) which says around 80 wastewater treatment works are at or near to full capacity.

The situation has already led to the disruption of building projects and developers are pressing for extra money to be allocated in next year’s Stormont public spending budget.

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“The further deterioration of this situation will result in a halt to development across large swathes of Northern Ireland,” warned CEF managing director John Armstrong in a letter to the head of the Civil Service, David Sterling.

“This cannot be allowed to happen.

“The risk of halting development on such a scale will impact the deliverability of much-needed new housing, public sector works and commercial development.

“It would also slow the recovery of the construction sector in uncertain economic times and make it nigh on impossible for any of the 11 local councils to deliver the economic aspirations within the local development plans that they are working on.”

The Federation represents more than 800 companies and three-quarters of the industry in Northern Ireland.

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Yesterday it warned of delays and disruption to jobs caused by delays in the awarding of maintenance and repair contracts by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Referring to the sewage issue Mr Armstrong said “flagship” development programmes like the Belfast Transport Hub and a mother and children’s hospital would be unlikely to require significant funding until late next year.

He also said no construction activity will commence on enhancing the A5 between the border and Londonderry until roughly a year from now.

It could be 12 months until construction begins on the York Street Interchange, part of the DUP’s deal to support the Tories in key Westminster votes.

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Mr Armstrong said: “We believe the budget allocations for these projects must be in line with the realistic programme laid out above.

“In the context of there being an overall pot of £1.5 billion in capital expense available to spend in 2019/20, we believe additional capital expenditure could be made available to Northern Ireland Water for some of the wastewater treatment works issues we have detailed.”

Related topics:Northern IrelandEast BelfastCivil Service