To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for an update on the Larne West Distributor (South).

Ms Kimmins

I recognise the Member's interest in the Larne West distributor (south) road and the local concerns about that incomplete section of road. As the Member will likely be aware, the road was identified through the Larne area plan and the earlier Larne West study as infrastructure to be delivered by the developers of the adjacent lands. A remaining links section has not been constructed and is still in private ownership. My Department's advice is that that is a private development issue. Responsibility for resolution rests with the relevant developers and the local authority, which is now Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. The Department does not have powers under the Private Streets (NI) Order 1980 to enforce construction of the missing section. For more recent development in the Larne West area, the Department has ensured that traffic impacts are considered through the planning process. In the case of the new port development approval for around 500 dwellings, off-site road improvements have been conditioned, including traffic signals at Donaghy's Lane and Antiville Road. Roads officials are content that those works provide satisfactory access to the existing network. Officials have also examined options to improve traffic progression at the Linn Road and Antiville Road junction, but the scheme identified has proven to be cost-prohibitive, due to significant underground utilities. While some short-duration queuing is observed at peak times, officials advise that there are no significant issues at other times and that traffic generally moves satisfactorily during the day. My Department will continue to engage with the planning consultation process to ensure that traffic from further development is properly assessed and adequate mitigations are put in place.

Ms Kimmins

As I said, at this point, the issue is between the council and the developers. Ultimately, they can resolve it. My Department will continue to engage with the council, but, at this point, we do not have the power to intervene. It is important to make that clear. I have stated that in relation to the Private Streets Order. If, at a later date, there is an opportunity for us to intervene, I am happy to consider that, if it is within my tenure as Minister. The Member mentioned the time that has passed since the issue arose. Ultimately, the advice that I have been provided with is that the issue can be resolved between the developer and the council.

Mr Stewart

The infrastructure in Larne West is shambolic and fails residents and commuters daily. Minister, you will be aware of an ombudsman's investigation of the missing link road at Ballyloran that reported last February on the back of my office having brought the matter to it. The investigation found maladministration, and your Department was to redouble its efforts with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and other stakeholders to bring about a resolution to the shambolic situation. As part of that, the Department was to process all considered options available and report to the ombudsman's office within six months: that was 18 months ago. I am one of the stakeholders; we have heard nothing. What is your Department doing about it?

Ms Kimmins

As I stated in my previous answer, the Department acknowledged the ombudsman's findings about the road. As the Member said, the ombudsman concluded that the failure to complete the road arose from the way in which development was allowed to proceed without the necessary planning controls or conditions having been put in place at that time. I cannot speak about something that happened 30-odd years ago, but I recognise that locals will not be happy with that response. I recognise that there are issues that need to be addressed. The report also noted, however, that that remaining link is undeveloped and in private ownership, which is why I explicitly set out who can work to resolve the issue. The official advice, which is consistent with the ombudsman's findings, remains that it is a private development issue and that responsibility for resolution rests with the relevant developers and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council as the planning authority. My Department will continue to ensure that, through the planning process, traffic generated by further development in that area is appropriately considered and mitigated through off-site works, where required. We will continue to engage in the process to make sure that we do not contribute to any further problems.

Mr McHugh

Minister, how does the Department work with councils when road infrastructure forms part of a planning approval?

Ms Kimmins

As Members will be aware, my Department is a statutory consultee in the planning process, at which point it provides technical advice to councils on roads, access traffic and road safety matters. Councils, as the ultimate planning authority, are responsible for determining planning applications and attaching or enforcing planning conditions, where appropriate. The Department will continue to provide advice to councils to ensure that transport impacts are properly considered before development proceeds. The issue with the Larne road is a retrospective one, but, at this time, the planning authority is the council, and it has the power to deal with it.

Mr O'Toole

Minister, the Larne West distributor was supposed to have been delivered by developers 25 or 30 years ago. It is a developer-led project. As I understand it — I do not represent Larne — it involves a couple of hundred metres of unbuilt road. Does the farcical situation of that unbuilt road in Larne not give the lie to your somewhat preposterous notion that developers will meet the £2 billon funding shortfall facing Northern Ireland Water? If they cannot build a couple of hundred metres of road in Larne, how will they fund our waste water infrastructure, which is an issue that is holding back our economy?

Ms Kimmins

First, to clarify the Member's points, I have never said that developers were going to fund the £2 billion gap. I have said quite the opposite, which is that that is one way in which to make some progress in that regard. It is important that I put that on the record. Secondly, it is a developer-led problem. If I were to take ownership of every issue that developers have caused, including unadopted developments, which is the same principle, I would have no money to do what I am meant to be doing, which I already struggle to do. While I take the Member's point, we are in a very difficult situation, in that we cannot pick up the pieces when a developer has failed to meet its responsibilities or a planning authority has failed to put in place proper mitigations. I have said that we will continue to engage with whomever we need to work with, but, ultimately, the solution to such things will be found between the council and the developer responsible.