An allocation of £18m from the Transformation Programme for two Northern Ireland infrastructure projects have been welcomed by Minister Liz Kimmons.

The funding will be divided between two projects, which include the Urban Drainage pilot project that will help transform the way in which rainwater is managed and another project to help address the workload in the Planning Appeals Commission.

The Urban Drainage project will receive £15m whist £3m will go towards the Planning Appeals Commission project.

Welcoming the funding for both projects, Infrastructure Minister Kiimmins said: "I am delighted that funding has now been guaranteed to move these important areas of work forward, at a time when public services and public finances are facing immense challenges. 

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"The Urban Drainage pilot project will use nature-based drainage solutions to demonstrate the benefits of managing rainwater naturally on the surface, to slow its flow into rivers and sewers. This in turn will help to reduce flood risk, improve water quality by reducing spills from combined sewers and provide a cost saving to NI Water through reduced energy costs required for pumping and treatment. The project proposes to retrofit around 10,000m3 of rainwater storage through a range of nature-based drainage solutions such as attenuation ponds, raingardens, swales and leaky dams. 

"The Planning Appeals Commission has been under great pressure for many years and this funding will help address those pressures through increasing the resources needed to deal with the issues in the planning system.  Independent inspectors will be appointed to carry out local public inquiries which will speed up decision making in the system.

"I look forward to seeing progress being made with both projects."