Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy is open to improving the process for adopting roads in new housing developments.

In the Assembly the Minster welcomed the opportunity to debate the issue of surety bonds, which are legally binding agreements that guarantees funding for the provision of completed roads and sewers for new housing developments.

The Minister said: "I recognise the concerns of local home owners who find themselves in new housing developments, where developers have left roads and sewerage systems unfinished.

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"Roads Service and NI Water are making use of the current legislation and procedures to address these problems but this process takes time to complete."

The current legislation requires developers to enter into a surety bond, which is a formal agreement for the construction and subsequent adoption of roads and sewers in new housing developments.

He continued: "In cases where the construction is not progressing satisfactorily, Roads Service can issue an Article 11, requiring works to be completed. In the last three financial years, Roads Service has served 227 Article 11 notices, 71 of these have led to enforcement action."

(CD/GK)