Background

Following approval by the NI Executive, the Living With Water Programme (LWWP) was set up by DfI in 2015 to develop the Living With Water in Belfast Plan. The aim was to develop an integrated sustainable plan for investment by DfI, NIEA and NI Water to improve the drainage and wastewater infrastructure that serves Greater Belfast to protect against flood risk, improve water quality and provide increased capacity for housing and economic growth. Following endorsement by the NI Executive, it was published in October 2021 and NI Water appointed the teams to design and deliver its major projects, which include the upgrade sewers, wastewater pumping stations, WwTW and sea outfalls. In 2023 NI Water estimated that its elements of the Living With Water in Belfast Plan would cost £1.9bn, with this enhancement investment taking over 10 years to deliver. The Utility Regulators PC21 Final Determination had included for NI Water to invest £460m on this plan between 2021 and 2027.

LWWP Review

In late 2024 DfI wrote to NI Water and advised that a review had been carried out and concluded that whilst the need for the Living With Water in Belfast Plan continues to exist, delivery of the Plan within the original twelve-year timescale (2021 to 2033) is no longer achievable. Delivery of the Belfast Plan projects can no longer be taken forward through a formal programme but instead by individual partners, such as NI Water, and delivered as normal business at the ‘scale and pace achievable within available budgets’.

Deferral Decision

When assessing if any of the Living With Water in Belfast Plan major projects could proceed, NI Water assessed the following additional factors:

1)   DfI has separately advised NI Water that Utility Regulators PC21 Final Determination for capital investment cannot be fully funded and to plan based on a defined level of constrained capital funding budget until 2033. The budget figure presents a significant shortfall when compared to the level of investment that was determined by the Utility Regulator for the period 2021 to 2027.

2)    With insufficient capital investment funds, NI Water is following prioritisation based on DfI’s PC21 Social and Environmental Guidance and have shared with NI Water’s Principal Stakeholders (Department for Infrastructure, NI Environment Agency, Drinking Water Inspectorate, Utility Regulator, and Consumer Council for NI).

When these factors are assessed together, there is currently insufficient funding available to deliver any of the Major Projects included within the Living With Water Plan for Belfast, including Belfast WwTW Phase 1, Sydenham WwPS, Kinnegar WwTW, Whitehouse WwTW and Extension of the Belfast Storm Water Tunnel.  Accordingly, in December 2024 NI Water began to ‘mothball’ these major projects and has advised the key stakeholders, including local councils and NIEA. As a result, the companies that had been employed to design and build these projects have commenced redeploying over 150 engineers and scientists that had been working on these projects to other parts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

The current estimated cost and status of these projects is set out below.

Development work on the following LWWP projects paused when LWWP review was announced, and will not now commence:

• Glenmachan Tunnel Extension from Boucher Road to Musgrave Park (£92m)
• Greenisland WwTW
• Carrickfergus WwTW
• LWWP Belfast Plan WwTW Sea Outfalls (including to unblock Belfast WwTW outfall)

Impact on Flooding, Pollution and Legislative Compliance

In October 2024 NI Water set out the implications of these projects being paused in the Story of Belfast Lough, which can be accessed here: Story of Belfast Lough - Northern Ireland Water

Impact on Capacity Constraints

There are already a range of types of wastewater and drainage related development constraints across most of the catchments included within by the Living With Water in Belfast Plan.

Due to the indefinite deferral of the LWWP Major Projects these will increase in severity. NI Water is currently carrying out a review, with aim that the implications can be set out in March 2025.

Impact on Other Strategic Plans

Knowledge of these project deferrals and the revised capacity constraints can be used by others, if and as necessary, to bring into alignment the targets for the outcomes of a range of strategic plans that are dependent on the outputs of the LWWP projects, such as:

• Local council Local Development Plans (objectives for increased populations, new houses, and economic growth)
• DAERA River Basin Management Plan for NI (objectives for improvements in water quality in rivers and coastal waters)
• NI Executive Programme for Government (objectives for housing, economic growth and environment)

Next Steps

To ensure that the existing facility operates as effectively as possible until it has been upgraded, NI Water will commence a programme of maintenance in Spring 2025.

NI Water has advised DfI that to be able to efficiently deliver the Living With Water In Belfast Plan Major Projects, NI Water will need a commitment that sustained levels of increased capital investment will be provided over many years.