NEWS
FARRANS GLANUA JV TO DELIVER £34M CASTOR BAY WATER TREATMENT WORKS
Exclusion of a proposed change to hike Landfill Tax by 3,015% in Northern Ireland and England from the Autumn Budget has been welcomed by the construction industry. Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget, CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WELCOMES REJECTION OF PROPOSED LANDFILL TAX HIKE
NI Water has awarded a £34m programme of work to Farrans-Glanua Joint Venture (JV) to deliver high-quality drinking water to over 250,000 customers in the Armagh and Down areas for the next 25 years. A new state-of-the-art pumping station will be constructed at Castor Bay Water Treatment Works near Lurgan, to replace an existing facility built in 1970. A new dedicated high-voltage
delivered on November 26, will increase landfill tax for the two
regions, but at a much lower rate than feared following extensive industry lobbying against the move. Existing landfill tax exemptions for quarrying will continue with full details of the rate increase to be published in a forthcoming finance bill. Among organisations welcoming the move were the Mineral Products Association and National Federation of Builders (NFB). Richard Beresford, NFB Chief Executive, said, “While we were heard on this proposal, lower rate landfill tax, or ‘muckaway’, will still more than double in price. “Furthermore, businesses who employ directly, take on apprentices, or who choose to decarbonise their vehicle fleets, will be throwing their arms up in frustration.” The Autumn Budget allocated the Northern Ireland Executive an additional £240m in resource funding, £130m in capital funding and £16.6m to boost trade between NI and GB. www.gov.uk/government/ publications/budget-2025-document
Castor Bay Water Treatment Works project team.
electrical supply will replace the current aging system to protect against power outages and safeguard water supply, with enhanced connectivity to accommodate potential integration of Solar PV, supporting NI Water’s Net Zero Strategy. Tzvetelina Bogoina, NI Water Director of Infrastructure Delivery, said, “Farrans- Glanua JV brings a wealth of experience in civil construction, process, mechanical and electrical engineering to this upgrade,
which will be carried out in phases to ensure continued operation of existing water supply assets.” The investment will increase the output capacity of the pumping station to 115 million litres of water a day with scope for further expansion. A new multi-branch cross-connection will give NI Water the ability to re-route flows during shutdowns or emergencies. www.farrans.com
ALSKEA BEGINS DEVELOPMENT AT LANDMARK £30M SITE IN DUNDONALD
Galbally-based property developer Alskea has commenced construction work on the first stage of a £30m residential housing development in Dundonald this autumn. The 12-acre site on Carrowreagh Road was formerly home of the Rolls Royce factory, which made parts for aircraft engines from 1966 to 1977 and was subsequently used by TK-ECC for the manufacture of car components, including seatbelts, until 2004. The
Aerial image of the former Dundonald Rolls Royce factory, where Alskea is to develop new residential properties.
development will see a total of 95 housing units built, including a mix of three- and four- bedroom detached and semi-detached homes, and is expected to be completed in 2028. Alskea is recognised as one of Northern Ireland’s leading housebuilders, winning the Belfast Telegraph Property Developer of the Year award in 2024. Martin Brannigan, Managing Director at Alskea, said, “Alskea’s work is driven by our desire to build good, high-quality homes for new or potential homebuyers. We have a long list of successful developments dotted throughout Northern Ireland, with 100% success rates. Our development in Dundonald will live up to that long-established record once it is completed.” www.alskea.com
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