Roads Minister Danny Kennedy has taken action to ensure that road works and utility services in a Larne housing development left unfinished by a developer will be completed using Road Bond funding.

Following the financial collapse of 'Eassda' a private Development Company, many of the roads and footpaths in the Lindara development in the town fell short of the standard of completion required by Roads Service.

Other work requiring completion includes the installation of watermain through the site. The failure of the developer meant that the estate could not be adopted into the Roads Network without significant improvement.

-- Advertisement --

Under the Private Streets Order Legislation, Mr Kennedy instructed Roads Service to use the Road Bond, originally put up as a surety by the developer to fund the completion of the unfinished work without the need for additional public funding.

The cost of the work is estimated to reach around £500,000 and is set to lead to one of the largest calls on a Road Bond invoked by Roads Service.

Mr Kennedy said: "Following the unfortunate financial collapse of the developer, funding to complete the utilities in Lindara will be entirely drawn from the developer's Road Bond.

"The Bond is a vital requirement within a development contract and is included to safeguards the public purse.

"In this particular case the residents in Lindara will directly benefit. Over the coming months they will see Roads Service and NI Water complete the very significant amount of work required in the estate.

"The entire scheme, in three separate phases, should be completed towards the end of November."

(CD/JP)