Minister announces new enforcement guidance to tackle unadopted private developments

INFRASTRUCTURE Minister, Liz Kimmins, has announced the introduction of enhanced enforcement procedures to ensure roads infrastructure in new developments is adopted into the public road network.

Minister Kimmins said: “Earlier this year I gave a commitment to the Assembly to provide updated guidance to staff in an effort to reduce the risk of new developments entering the department’s backlog of unadopted private streets sites.

“Private Streets legislation and historical enforcement guidance do not impose a timeframe for enforcement action to commence, which has led to some new developments remaining unadopted.

“This practice is unsustainable and is having a detrimental impact on new homeowners who have bought their property in good faith believing that the surrounding infrastructure such as roads, footways and streetlighting would be completed to an adoptable standard within a certain timeframe.

“That is why I am now publishing revised guidance for staff which establishes a threshold for the initiation of enforcement action.

"This will help to balance the rights of homeowners with the economic pressures experienced by developers.

"The changes will take effect for new developments where bonds have been taken out from January 1.

"The backdating of this guidance will significantly reduce the risk of developments currently under construction entering the backlog.”

Officials will now engage with developers and sureties to inform them of the updated enforcement procedures to be adopted by DfI Roads.

Strabane Sinn Féin councillor, Paul Boggs, said its a welcome step.

“Homeowners who purchase a property in good faith are often left frustrated when roads, footpaths and streetlights remain unadopted for years," he said.

"We have seen in Strabane the impact that these unadopted sites can have on families and communities.

“To prevent this from happening again, the Infrastructure Minister has updated guidance to establish a clear starting point for enforcement action on developers.

“This will help reduce the department’s backlog and ensure families buying a home are protected, while also supporting developers.

“Sinn Féin will continue working to improve our streets, towns and cities.”