Additional funding allocated for 3,000 new wastewater connections in Derry

Infrastructure Minister has secured £11 million in June Monitoring which will help unlock wastewater capacity across the north.

This includes releasing capacity to enable over 2,000 new homes as part of the H2 project in Derry to connect in the next two-three years and another 1,000 in the Waterside area.   

On a visit to the city, Minister Liz Kimmins said: “I am determined to do all that I can to unlock wastewater capacity across the whole of the North. I have secured additional funding in June monitoring which will help release capacity to enable around 3000 new connections for the city in the years to come.

"A cross departmental working group led by my department and working in collaboration with NI Water and the NI Housing Executive has identified a range of housing projects to unlock wastewater capacity for housing connections and this includes these connections for the Derry area.  

“This means since Autumn 2024 my Department has been able to unlock wastewater capacity to enable future wastewater connections for almost 5,000 new homes, with 2,300 new wastewater connections already enabled through the allocation of an additional £19.5million to NI Water from October monitoring.

“As I announced last week, additional funding is just one approach. NI Water’s application of innovative solutions to wastewater treatment in Newry will also connect another 400 properties to the network and unlocking vital economic growth for the region. I am encouraged that the company is seeking to develop this innovation for other areas in the North where getting connections is an issue.

"We continue to face challenges in the delivery of water and waste-water and I am continuing with my three-pronged plan to tackle this issue. This involves working with Executive colleagues to get the necessary funding for this essential service. I have taken forward a consultation on developer contributions which has just closed and I have in recent weeks introduced a SuDS new bill which will make provision for SuDS to the Assembly.

“This development in Derry and recent innovative work in Newry demonstrate what is possible. 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.”