Leading property developer insists chronic underinvestment in utilities stalls new builds [Video]

One of Ireland’s leading property developers has said “we cannot build” due to chronic neglect of our water and energy infrastructure, writes Ayaat Yassin-Kassab.

As politicians compete to promise new housing ahead of next week’s General Election, developers are revealing concerns about water and electricity problems plaguing new projects.

Ronan Columb, managing director of property developer Castlethorn, said: “There isn’t a site that we have where there isn’t either an electricity problem or a water problem, and that’s down to chronic underinvestment in those utilities over many years.”

Castlethorn, founded and led by Dundrum Town Centre builder Joe O’Reilly, has ambitious plans to build 20,000 homes over the next decade, but repeated problems have arisen due to supply and connection failures by Irish Water and ESB.

Housing campaigner David Hallsaid: “When developers are looking at different projects, a main concern is the local authority and local area’s history …