Lisburn and Castlereagh City Councillor Nicola Parker has hit out at Sinn Fein, blaming the Party for “appalling wastewater mismanagement”, which she says is blocking 6,294 desperately needed new homes in the city.

Cllr Parker was speaking after a new report from construction experts warned that the lack of capacity in the wastewater system is severely compounding the council’s housing shortage and inflicting significant damage on the wider economy.

“This new analysis paints a grave picture of the impact of Sinn Féin’s appalling mismanagement of the wastewater system on housing development and economic growth in Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council,” Cllr Nicola Parker said.

“At a time when housing shortages mean 2,519 people in our council are on the social housing waiting list and many more are struggling to get on the property ladder or find an affordable rent, construction experts have revealed that 6,294 of desperately needed new homes are being held up by our crumbling wastewater infrastructure.

Councillor Nicola Parker hits out over 'mismanagement of wastewater'. Pic credit: McAuley Multimedia

placeholder image — Councillor Nicola Parker hits out over 'mismanagement of wastewater'. Pic credit: McAuley Multimedia

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"The Sinn Féin Department for Infrastructure Minister has been in post for over two years, received the biggest capital budget in the history of devolution in 2025, yet has utterly failed to get to grips with this situation.

“My constituents are facing homelessness, sky-high rents and major barriers to home ownership as a direct consequence of the failure to build more local homes.

"The Minister won’t be able to address that under her current hands-off approach.

"We need urgent action and a credible plan to deliver the investment the wastewater system needs and get these new homes built.”