Durkan: Unblocking water issues key to unlocking housing opportunities for all

SDLP Infrastructure Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has asked Minister John O’Dowd for clarity around proposals that housing developers could be asked to fund water infrastructure upgrades.

Housebuilding fell to a 60-year low in 2023 coinciding with a record high 47,000 applicants waiting for social housing. Currently, an estimated 19,000 housing units are affected by insufficient water infrastructure, with Derry City and Strabane accounting for the largest share, totalling approximately 5,300 units.

Following a briefing session from Minister O’Dowd at the Infrastructure Committee earlier today, Mark H Durkan MLA commented:

“This situation has become critical and while I accept that there’s no quick fix, the response from Minister has been extremely vague and underwhelming. Sadly, it doesn’t inspire confidence that this issue will be improved, never mind resolved any time soon. No detail has been given as to what level of funding will be required from developers or what alternative solutions the Minister, and wider Executive, is considering.

“The Executive knew this situation was coming, they didn’t require a crystal ball to see the catastrophic impact that chronic and systemic underfunding in water and wastewater infrastructure would have on housing development, economic investment and future prosperity.

“The Minister’s suggestions for developers to contribute additional monies towards water infrastructure upgrades could increase costs on housing and reduce the number of homes that can be built. That will impact not just on social housing development but will push up costs for those buying homes and housing shortages will increase rent in the private rented sector. It will cost everyone. It would appear these proposals haven’t really been thought through. Failure to invest in or address this issue will drive developers away from Northern Ireland to pursue projects in regions where such obstacles are far less burdensome. As a result, areas in greatest housing need, like Derry will be hit hardest.

“It’s all well and good the Minister stating that he has support from Executive colleagues on the need to fund NI Water but that support hasn’t translated into meaningful investment. It's evident this issue is a barrier to the housing aims outlined in the Programme for Government, although it’s beginning to feel as though plans were kept deliberately vague - after all, you can’t be held accountable for missing targets that were never clearly defined in the first place.

“The Executive must move beyond merely stating what needs to be done and start backing their words with action, providing a clear framework on how they intend to achieve it.”