Banbridge Newry & Mourne Plan 2015

Strategic Plan Framework: Public Services and Utilities

The provision of public services and utilities within the Plan Area is primarily the responsibility of a number of Government Departments, Agencies and statutory bodies as well as Banbridge and Newry and Mourne District Councils. The private sector is, however, playing an increasingly important role. The main public services and utilities are water and sewerage, drainage, waste disposal, cemeteries, electricity, telecommunications and natural gas.

Planning Service has consulted all statutory agencies and bodies with responsibility for the provision of public services and utilities within the Plan Area. The information provided by those agencies is contained within the Public Services and Utilities Technical Supplement.

Regional Policy Context

The RDS provides the strategic environmental context for the delivery of public services and utilities and contains SPGs and measures for Northern Ireland as follows:

• to undertake or where appropriate, facilitate a programme of infrastructure improvements essential to business needs (SPG-ECON 5);
• to respond to the implications of climate change and promote more prudent and efficient use of energy and resources, and effective waste management (SPG-ENV 5);
• to create healthier living environments and to support healthy lifestyles (SPG-ENV 6); and
• to develop a cohesive network of cross border and trans regional infrastructure (SRC 2.3).

PPS 10 - Telecommunications, PPS 11 - Planning and Waste Management and PPS 15 - Planning and Flood Risk set out prevailing regional policy relating to those topics.

PSRNI contains current regional policies on new infrastructure, major projects, and developments at risk from land instability. It also includes policies on overhead electricity cables, renewable energy and septic tanks.

Water and Sewage

The abstraction, treatment and supply of drinking water and conveyance and treatment of sewage are the responsibility of DRD Water Service. Future improvements to this infrastructure are also the responsibility of Water Service.

Throughout the Plan Area, Water Service has schemes programmed to upgrade the water and sewerage system, where required, and to comply with EU directives regarding drinking water quality and discharge criteria and to meet increasing demand.

The Appropriate Assessment highlighted that there is currently insufficient capacity within the Newry, Warrenpoint and Annalong WWTWs to fully accommodate the Plan Proposals.

The future infrastructural requirements of the Plan Area are determined on the basis of a number of appraisal studies including Watermain Zonal Studies, Drainage Area Studies and Wastewater Treatment Work Studies. Information relating to these studies and existing and proposed water and sewerage infrastructure is detailed in the Public Services and Utilities Technical Supplement.

Drainage

DARD Rivers Agency, is the statutory drainage and flood protection authority and will be consulted on matters of flood risk and other drainage issues.

In accordance with government policy, Rivers Agency is committed to the introduction of procedures for the recovery of developer contributions towards the costs of drainage infrastructure improvement work. Currently, drainage improvements necessary to permit development are subject to strict cost/benefit criteria and scheme prioritisation and whilst drainage works to facilitate development may be identified as viable, their implementation will be dependant on the availability of resources.

For those sites where necessary infrastructure improvements are not viable, Rivers Agency will not consent to any additional run-off beyond existing rates. In these circumstances, developers are recommended to consult with Rivers Agency and Water Service at an early stage prior to submission of a planning application, in order to ensure an acceptable means of storm water drainage.

Many existing urban drainage systems are damaging the environment and are, therefore, not sustainable in the long term. The government wishes to promote a move to Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS). These provide a number of techniques for draining an area. Details of SUDs and the techniques are detailed in PPS15 - Planning and Flood Risk.

Rivers Agency has advised the Department that there are a number of recorded flooded areas that significantly affect particular settlements within the Plan Area. The main areas at risk from flooding include:

• the Bann river valley at Banbridge, Gilford and Lawrencetown;
• the Lagan river valley at Dromore;
• the Newry and Clanrye river valleys to the north and east of Newry;
• the Camlough river; and
• the Ghann river at Rostrevor.

This list is not exhaustive. Prospective developers are advised to contact Rivers Agency, at an early stage in the formulation of their proposals to clarify flooding or floodplain issues that may affect particular sites.

Waste Disposal

A new approach to waste management has emerged in recent years, driven forward by the UK and EU commitment to the principles of sustainable patterns of development. This commitment is reflected in legislative changes that require the reuse, recycling and recovery of material from our waste. This focus is also coupled with legislation to minimise waste production and policies to educate the public, industry and young people in particular, in effective resource use and reuse. As part of the Southern Waste Management Partnership, Banbridge and Newry and Mourne District Councils are currently working with six other Councils to develop a sustainable solution for waste management.

Recycling and composting is facilitated through the provision of bring facilities, bottle banks and civic amenity sites. Information relating to waste management infrastructure is detailed in the Public Services and Utilities Technical Supplement.

Cemeteries

Banbridge and Newry and Mourne District Councils have responsibility for a number of cemeteries within each District. Some churches also manage associated cemeteries and burial grounds.

Telecommunications

The Department recognises the importance of modern telecommunications for the growing needs of business and individuals. Northern Ireland has a fully digital, fully fibre-optic communications network and is the first region in the UK to achieve virtually 100% coverage of broadband services. There is also an extensive mobile telecommunication network serving the Plan Area.

Energy

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) published Energy: a Strategic Framework for Northern Ireland in June 2004. The objective of the framework is to achieve a competitive, sustainable, reliable energy market at the minimum cost necessary in an all-island, UK and European context.

Electricity

Northern Ireland Electricity will continue to develop the existing 33kV and 11 kV distribution networks as customer requirements and demand change in the future. The existing 33kV networks within the Plan Area are presently being reinforced.

Natural Gas

BGE (NI) is constructing the South-North gas pipeline connecting Gormanston, County Meath to the existing natural gas transmission network in Northern Ireland near Ballyclare, County Antrim. The proposed route for this pipeline crosses both Banbridge and Newry and Mourne District Council areas. Firmus Energy is licensed to distribute and supply natural gas to homes and businesses in Banbridge and Newry.

The Department will treat the high-pressure pipeline as a hazardous installation. This may place constraints on developments in its vicinity in the interest of public safety. All planning applications in the vicinity of the natural gas pipeline will be considered in consultation with the Health and Safety Executive of Northern Ireland.

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