Newry is set to experience a significant boost in economic activity, following an innovative solution developed by NI Water to unlock crucial wastewater connections.

This pioneering method will facilitate the connection of 400 new properties within the area, overcoming long-standing infrastructure limitations that had previously hampered substantial development.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins lauded NI Water's ingenuity during a recent visit to the Newry Wastewater Treatment Works. "I have consistently said that innovative thinking and working in partnership hold the key to unlocking our wastewater constraints," Minister Kimmins remarked. "Connecting 400 properties in Newry shows what can be achieved when we challenge traditional thinking and focus on smarter, more sustainable solutions – this lies at the heart of my three-pronged approach."


NI Water's strategy in Newry represents a dynamic departure from conventional upgrade methods. It delivers a swifter and more cost-effective outcome by combining focused maintenance, the elimination of excess water within the system, and strategic partnerships with local businesses to mitigate industrial flow impacts. This alternative demonstrates a capacity to deliver prompt results even in the face of funding pressures.

The Minister emphasised the profound impact this will have on the locality: "Having been effectively closed to significant new development due to long-standing wastewater infrastructure constraints, vital economic growth in Newry will now be unlocked, thanks to this new and dynamic alternative to traditional upgrade methods."

She concluded by highlighting the broader implications: "This is great news, not only for Newry, but for the wider economy and proof that, while more funding is needed, innovative solutions to problems can be found. I look forward to NI Water using similar methods to unlock capacity in other areas in the North where getting connections is an issue."

The success in Newry illustrates how adaptive infrastructure management can directly enable residential and commercial expansion, fostering growth even when large-scale capital investments are not immediately feasible.