Derry homes benefit from extra waste water funding
Speaking in Derry on Monday, Kimmins said she was "determined to do all that I can to unlock wastewater capacity across the whole of the North"."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," the Sinn Féin politician said.The additional money from the June monitoring round will benefit 1,000 homes in Derry's Waterside, a further 100 in Strabane, 30 in Sion Mills and 2,000 in Derry's cityside.That includes The Cashel development on land between Whitehouse Road and the Coshquin area of Derry.
Patrick McGinnis, from developer The Braidwater Group, said he "warmly welcomed" the minister's announcement."The focus now must be on the next steps and ensuring work can be progressed at pace so that much-needed housing can be delivered without further delay," he said.
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where households do not pay directly for their water.Instead, NI Water receives a government subsidy which diverts more than £300m annually from the Stormont Executive's budget.However, persistent underfunding of NI Water has led to a shortfall in wastewater infrastructure, which in turn, is limiting house building.Last year NI Water said an outdated and at capacity sewage network was stalling construction of new homes, businesses and public buildings in 23 towns across Northern Ireland.
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