The shambles that is our water and sewage system have been in the press for months, and our esteemed ruling class have just issued a (it’s never our fault) consultation about how to resolve this pressing issue. The main thrust of the consultation is that the housebuilders pay for any infrastructure upgrades required to facilitate new housing development, something not required by housing developers in Scotland and England. This additional cost will either reduce the value of development land or increase the price of new build homes, and in fact, the price of all homes in a location. Newton Emerson’s comments on Nolan showed his complete lack of understanding of the housing market. He spent several minutes talking gobbledygook, only to be politely rebuked by Brian Pope, an engineer and expert in the field of development infrastructure. In addition, our finance minister has refused to countenance, let alone consider, water rates as a solution to the severe lack of investment in our water and sewage infrastructure over the decades. This is on top of our mental planning system, which is hindering growth, pushing up house prices and stopping young people from getting on the housing ladder. Those young people who are lucky to get on the ladder usually get the assistance of the Bank of Mum and Dad or have copper-fastened jobs in the public sector/civil service, where employer pensions contributions are between 19 %of 25%, while the average private sector employer contribution is 6%.
A solution based on England, where the average water rates bill is around £500.00 per annum.
- The capital needed by NIW is estimated at £2.0 billion.
- Households in Northern Ireland: 740,000.
- Cost per household £2700.
- Cost per household per annum over 10 years £270: This is a crude calculation as this would be a regressive tax, a sort of poll tax. The actual charge would need to be designed on a more progressive basis.
- Go out and borrow the money from Rachel, as borrowing for investment is within the fiscal rules, hypothecate it, and most importantly, giving her the comfort that you can pay it back: DONE, EASY PEESEY
Finally, engaging with the electorate about this critical issue is vital; blaming the Brits for everything and calling Hilary patronising is simply playground politics. Light at the end of the tunnel, when on the way home in a taxi, the driver from North Belfast said, “Why do our politicians believe we don’t have to pay for anything?”
Suneil Sharma
A real social democrat and MPE (Member of the Progressive Electorate)
15th April 2025
The Gob 
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