Planning to build? Contact NI Water first

That is the advice from NI Water as it launches a campaign to highlight the steps developers, small builders and individuals planning to build or extend must follow.

Davy McGrath, Head of Developer Services, NI Water, explained: “Developers, builders and individual households are already seeing the impact of our constrained sewer network with multiple planning applications being recommended for rejection. Therefore, it is vital anyone trying to build contacts us early so we can review their plans to see if there are short term local solutions that can be implemented.

“Warnings about our struggling infrastructure were clearly highlighted with the phrase ‘no drains, no cranes’. We are now seeing these warnings come to fruition.

“Therefore, it is vital you engage early with NI Water when planning to build or extend.”

This can be done by filling out a Pre-Development Enquiry Form. This will help NI Water to identify any potential issues with plans that we can help resolve in advance of submitting your planning application.

If you apply for planning permission in an area where there are capacity issues, NI Water will have to recommend the application is turned down until you engage with them. This is to ensure they can continue to protect the environment.

So please, engage with NI Water early to avoid delays to your project and potential disappointment if your application is refused.

Further information on how to engage with the Developers Services Team and the ‘Pre-Development Enquiry Form’ can be found at niwater.com.