Building projects to revitalise Belfast and much-needed housing plans are at risk because of Northern Ireland's struggling sewerage system, an MLA has warned.
It comes after the agency in charge of water infrastructure revealed it has warned of network capacity issues for almost 140 planning applications in Belfast in the past year.
Out of 306 responses to applications in the city council area since July last year, Northern Ireland Water raised concerns in 137 cases - almost half of them.
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It raised concerns about the network's "ability to support the proposed development without causing further dis-amenity to either the environment or existing customers".
The public company said that where the applicant does not engage with NI Water to find an "engineering solution", it recommends to the council that these applications should be refused.
DUP North Belfast MLA Phillip Brett received the details in correspondence from NI Water, which falls under the remit of Stormont's Department for Infrastructure.
He told Belfast Live: "At a time when housing demand continues to grow, it is hugely concerning that much-needed development is being held up by a lack of water infrastructure.
"We cannot afford to have unnecessary delays which could be continually putting proposed investment in our city at risk.
"These statistics, coupled with a planning system which is not fit for purpose, should act as a clear warning and wake-up call to the Minister for Infrastructure."
NI Water said there are "capacity issues" both at Belfast's wastewater treatment works and within the city centre sewer network.
In its response to Mr Brett, it added: "Due to these constraints NI Water may return a negative response to a planning application with a recommendation that the application is not approved, and request that the developer contact NI Water to consider if an alternative solution is feasible."
It said that in some cases NI Water will "return a positive response with a condition that no connection is made to the sewer network prior to July 2023", the expected completion date of an interim £10million upgrade to the wastewater treatment works.
"However, after this time it is still possible that negative responses may be returned due to sewer network capacity. Each application will be assessed on a case-by-case basis."
NI Water said it is "committed to working with developers" but added: "The phasing of development is of high importance going forwards due to the historic and prolonged under-investment in wastewater infrastructure across Northern Ireland."
The Department for Infrastructure said it published last November a plan for drainage and wastewater management in greater Belfast which will require an estimated £1.4billion over the next 12 years.
A spokesman said: "The core objectives of the plan are to provide the drainage and wastewater treatment infrastructure needed to protect Belfast against flooding, enhance the environment, and enable the city to grow."
He added: "The department is now working with NI Water and other key stakeholders to develop and deliver the integrated opportunities identified in the Living With Water in Belfast Plan."
NI Water said it has a six-year £2billion business plan to help tackle development constraints across Northern Ireland but it requires "sustained investment over a longer 12 to 18-year period".
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