Construction Employers Federation Chief Executive, Mark Spence and the Chair of CEF’s Housing Committee, Martin Mallon have attended the NI Assembly’s Infrastructure Committee to brief MLAs on the pressing challenges facing the homebuilding sector resulting from the continued underfunding of NI Water.
CEF was joined by representatives from the Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) and expressed support for a comprehensive review of alternative governance arrangements of NI Water led by suitably qualified experts and guided by the recommendations set out in the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) report from March 2024.
According to a CEF survey, constraints resulting from wastewater capacity issues are delaying the construction of approximately 8,450 homes, equating to nearly £1 billion of stalled investment.
When proposals from housing associations and other developers are considered, the number of homes currently held up rises to around 19,000. Factoring in additional inquiries received by NI Water, the total figure doubles to 37,000 homes.
For over a decade, Northern Ireland has only managed to build 50-60% of its annual new build housing needs, exacerbating the current housing supply shortage. This shortfall has significantly impacted the local industry and wider economy.
With 2023’s housing completion rates hitting historic lows and the outlook for 2024 looking bleak, Northern Ireland is facing a continued and mounting housing crisis.
