By Violet Brown
A NEWTOWNARDS councillor has called for urgent government action after claiming outdated wastewater infrastructure is blocking investment, regeneration and housing development across the borough.
The comments of councillor Richard Smart came after a delegation from Ards and North Down Council met Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins earlier this week warning of the serious impact that inadequate wastewater infrastructure is having on the regeneration and economic development of Newtownards.
Mr Smart said the town has a ‘vibrant and resilient independent retail sector’ that enjoys strong support from local residents.
But he warned the town continues to face significant challenges with vacant and derelict properties that should be brought back into productive use, whether as businesses creating local jobs or as much-needed homes.
Mr Smart highlighted the council’s Empty to Energised Scheme, which was launched this year to encourage the reuse of long-term vacant properties. And while the initiative has attracted considerable interest, he said wastewater constraints are undermining its success.
“Despite the council’s positive efforts, some applications have already been refused because NI Water would not reconnect properties to the wastewater network when they have been vacant for more than five years,” Mr Smart explained.
He added that three of the council’s five urban centres – Newtownards, Comber and Donaghadee – are classified by NI Water as ‘closed catchments’, meaning new connections are routinely refused due to insufficient capacity.
“This is simply not acceptable – we cannot continue closing the door on investment, jobs, housing and economic opportunity because essential infrastructure has been allowed to fall behind demand,” Mr Smart said.
Warning that policy changes alone would not solve the issue, he said: “These measures may help at the margins, but they will not deliver
the substantial investment required to address capacity constraints in areas such as the South Street pumping station – resolving these issues properly will require investment running into tens of millions of pounds.
“Stormont must do more with the resources already available and seriously explore new funding models for NI Water, including mutualisation and increased borrowing powers to support and unlock long-term infrastructure investment,” he underlined.
Mr Smart concluded: “This is about protecting opportunity for our communities in Newtownards, Comber and Donaghadee and we must continue to make our case.”
A DfI spokeswoman said £63m has been invested in wastewater infrastructure in the borough over the past five years, but acknowledged years of underinvestment had left the wastewater system under considerable strain.
Infrastructure minister Liz Kimmins welcomed meeting with a delegation with the council and representatives from NI Water earlier this week to discuss how new developments in the area could be supported.
The spokeswoman said the Minister is continuing to deliver a three-pronged approach to unlock additional wastewater capacity and support house building by securing more investment for wastewater infrastructure from Executive colleagues, bringing in legislation to provide for sustainable drainage systems, and the introduction of voluntary developer contributions.
The spokeswoman said mutualisation would require domestic water charging and Ms Kimmins is not prepared to impose extra costs on hard pressed families in the midst of a cost of living crisis.
“In terms of the planning process, the department continues to work in partnership with local government and key stakeholders through the planning improvement agenda with the aim of enhancing the performance and long-term effectiveness of the planning system,” she added.
“Work is actively progressing across all aspects of the planning system to deliver improvements which make a tangible difference to all.”
