Drainage issues ‘solution’ project at proposed 40-home site in Newtownabbey

Choice Housing and NI Water have commenced a pilot project to overcome drainage problems at a proposed housing development site in the Bawnmore area of Newtownabbey.
The site is located at 2-28 Shore Road. Pic by Google.The site is located at 2-28 Shore Road. Pic by Google.
The site is located at 2-28 Shore Road. Pic by Google.

If the historic drainage issues can be resolved, plans for 38 new homes will be submitted to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.

In a statement issued to this newspaper, a spokesperson for the housing associaiton said: “Choice acquired the site in October 2015 and is currently working with Northern Ireland Water (NIW) in a pilot project to reach a positive solution to resolve the drainage issues at 2-28 Shore Road.

“Once a positive way forward has been agreed with NIW, the association will lodge a planning application for 38 social units to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council for consideration.”

A spokesperson for NI Water stated: “NI Water have been in proactive conversations with both Choice Housing and their agents in relation to the proposed 38 unit development on the Shore Road, Newtownabbey.

“Like many other developments right across the province, this project has encountered the ongoing and ever increasing issue where NI Water has been unable to grant connection to their sewerage network due to it being at or above operational capacity.

“This recommendation to refuse connections, is due to the fact that the public system cannot presently serve the development proposal, without significant risk of environmental harm, including pollution, flooding or detrimental impact to existing properties.”

The spokesperson added: “Historical underinvestment in NI Water’s infrastructure and ongoing economic constraints has impacted NI Water’s ability to approve new connections to the public foul system, in areas constrained by a lack of wastewater capacity.

“As an interim measure, NI Water has recently initiated a pilot project to consider alternative solutions that may allow some connections to be granted in the future, subject to the agreement of NI Water and other stakeholders.

“This development has been entered into the ‘pilot project’ which is site specific, and entails an extensive investigation by NI Water Engineers to explore alternative ‘solution engineering’ options. The aim is to reduce existing loading capacity of the sewer network and provide any other options of dealing with the developments, foul disposal requirements, that may exist.

“The pilot project is scheduled to run until March 31 2021; however, if in the interim a solution has been approved, those affected will be informed.”

A spokesperson for Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council said there is no current application with the council, adding: “Planning application LA03/2017/0624/F for a residential development of 44 units by Choice Housing was submitted in June 2017. The application was subsequently withdrawn on 20 March 2018.”

Macedon Sinn Fein Councillor Taylor McGrann has welcomed any potential development at the site.

Cllr McGrann said: “We were delighted to assist Choice Housing in removing a barrier to this proposed social housing development. The need for such housing in the local area is significant and undoubtedly waste water management was a concern.

“The addition of this site to the NI Water pilot scheme will now allow Choice Housing to advance the proposal through the standard planning process.”

Alliance Cllr Billy Webb, who has been contacted by residents over speculation about the development, pointed out “there is no housing approval, or indeed even a planning application for housing”.

He added “as there is a housing demand in this area, it’s unfair to raise expectations”.

Ulster Unionist Cllr Robert Foster has also been contacted by concerned residents. He said: “Raising the expectations of residents who are in housing stress with false claims of new homes, when no application even exists to build housing on this site, is shameful.

“There is a major issue with capacity at the local waste water treatment works which is having an impact on developments as far as Mallusk. Until the issue is resolved, developments will be hampered in the immediate area.”

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