A Derryadd land-owner said he has been left with seven unsaleable sites owing to a “ten year dispute” over a septic tank.
Land-owner, John McAlinden, explained that he has now secured planning permission for the development of seven homes on the Ardmore Road area and, before planning permission was granted, he had been attempting to sell the land with outline planning permission for the same.
With two adult children, John is desperate to have the sale completed to put him in a financial position to “help his children start out in life”.
He also has to cover substantial bills due for payment to his architect, solicitor and estate agent.
Despite having had several interested parties in the last number of years, he says a septic tank has brought all potential sales to a halt.
It is understood that the septic tank which is intended to service John’s sites was installed under a £100,000 bond – held by NI Water – by the developer of an adjacent site known as Church Brae.
The tank is now said to require “remedial works” to be brought up to standard in order for the bond to be released and for it to be adopted by NI Water.
According to the planning application submitted in relation to Church Brae, Wilden Construction Services would be the developer responsible for said remedial works.
However, a source revealed to Armagh I that the developer is “just as anxious for the remedial works to be carried out as anyone else” and, as such, the developer is not to blame for the delay.
The source also explained that it was a “complex issue” that makes it “very difficult to process when it comes to adopting these tanks and treatment stations”.
Desperate to find a solution, John has reached out to Sinn Fein Councillor, Catherine Nelson who has made the additional discovery that the portion of Ardmore Road relating to John’s sites has not been not fully adopted by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).
The councillor – who recognises that this issue also needs to be addressed – has now written to DfI requesting that they send someone to assess the road.
In relation to the tank adoption, a spokesperson for NI Water said: “NI Water has received an application to adopt the tank at this location.
“NI Water has been engaging with the developer to ensure the tank is brought up to standard, which will require remedial works.
“The developer has been informed of the works required and NI Water is awaiting confirmation these are complete before the adoption can proceed.
“This is a developer-led process. Until the tank has been adopted, it remains private and not NI Water’s responsibility.
“Should the landowner have any issues remaining about the remedial works required and/or progress, they should raise it with the developer directly.”
