Department for Communities says it is ‘actively engaging’ with its partners on the scheme
The redevelopment of a politically sensitive site in Belfast as social housing is being held back by difficulties connecting it to sewers, Northern Ireland’s Department for Communities (DfC)has admitted.
The site on Adam Street / Upper Canning Street is a “peaceline”, meaning it separates a traditionally republican and Catholic neighbourhood from a traditionally unionist and Protestant one.
In the past it has been used for Twelfth of July bonfires, in which Protestants celebrate the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne. These bonfires sometimes involve sectarian displays including offensive slogans and the burning of the Irish tricolour.
The DfC published a development study for the site in March 2023 and appointed Apex Housing Association to redevelop it the following year.
However, progress appears to have stalled in part due to waste water challenges.
“The redevelopment of the Adam Street site is complex involving a range of factors, one of which is waste water connection,” a DfC spokesperson told Housing Today.
“The Department is actively engaging with site co-owners and statutory partners to enable the delivery of new social homes and long-term regeneration of the area as soon as possible.
“A proposal from a neighbouring site owner is one of a number of options currently under consideration as we seek to determine the best way forward.”
According to the BBC, wooden pallets have recently returned to the disused site after several years without a bonfire.
NI Water said it was “aware” of the planned development and confirmed the site was “in a constrained area due to sewer capacity”.
“Therefore, it is the developer’s responsibility to engage early with NI Water to avoid potential delays to any proposed development,” the spokesperson said.
“In this case, the developer is engaging with NI Water through the wastewater impact assessment process to find a solution that will permit a foul only connection to the wastewater infrastructure.
“NI Water has issued an engineering report which identifies possible solutions that the developer can deliver to achieve a sewer connection. The developer has not yet agreed a solution with NI Water.”
Apex Housing declined to comment.
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