Strangford Lough: Healing a Damaged Balance Between Land, Sea and Communities Strangford Lough has some of the strongest environmental protections in Europe – MCZ, SAC, SPA, Ramsar, ASSI, AONB, Geopark – yet the story on its shores is one of communities and landscapes slowly weakened in the name of “progress”. Environmental law has saved the […]
A bridge of hope in a new era Across the world, leaders are talking about a turning point—a moment when old certainties are fading and free societies must renew their foundations if they want to stay secure, prosperous and confident. For us around Strangford Lough, those foundations are not abstract: they are the roads our […]
Pathways to the Future: When Institutions Must Adapt or Communities Pay the Price Strangford Lough Crossing Campaign www.strangfordloughcrossing.org A recent article in The Irish News featured Fr Eugene O’Hagan, one of the celebrated singing trio The Priests, reflecting on the future of parish life in the Down and Connor Diocese. His observations, candid and unvarnished, […]
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy bridge, New Ross, County Wexford , Ireland, opened 2020. New Ross bridge build cost is £106M in 2026 prices, which, if base cost for SLC + Narrows site specifics + approach roads/car parking + Professional Fees, say, £300M + forms the cost figure being reported at present across the spectrum of SLC/ […]
The New Green Book: Does the Strangford Lough Crossing Actually Stack Up? Yes — the updated Green Book under Rachel Reeves reflects material changes in Treasury appraisal practice, especially around: However, it’s a reform of guidance and framework rather than a change in statute. The core institutional role of the Green Book — to guide […]
THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGE FACING GAELIC GAMES ON THE ARDS PENINSULA A Wake-Up Call for Our Community The GAA has issued a stark warning in its January 2026 report “No One Shouted Stop—Until Now,” and the implications for the Ards Peninsula deserve serious attention from everyone who cares about Gaelic games in our area. For decades, […]
NI Executive Cycle of fiscal dysfunction – The Ultimate Explanation: Political Cowardice Dressed as Confidence Why did Minister O’Dowd proceed with Reval 2026 figures despite knowing the process was flawed, and then claim “full confidence” after pausing it? Because he is attempting to: This requires: It is simultaneously: The “full confidence” statement is the keystone […]
Action Plan: Comprehensive Fiscal Reform for Northern Ireland Unfortunately, under the current arrangements, local elections before May 2027. Time for strategic delivery. Immediate Actions (Months 1-3) 1. Establish Fiscal Credibility Freeze all new spending commitments Implement emergency Budget correction Install real-time budget monitoring Establish independent Accounting Officer authority 2. Revenue Rationalization Implement Reval 2026 with […]
Question: Shall the Strangford Lough Crossing clear the high bar of the Climate Change Act (NI) 2022, when compared to projects such as the A5 ? Executive Summary Future DfI position ? Having considered whole-life carbon, traffic impacts, mitigation, and adaptation, the Department is satisfied that the Strangford Lough Fixed Crossing: Below is a structured […]
The Irish government announced a significant €1 billion Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF) today (January 20, 2026). This is described as the largest housing infrastructure fund in many years, aimed at unlocking delays in new housing developments by funding essential supporting infrastructure. Key details include: This announcement focuses specifically on housing-related infrastructure to address barriers […]
Response to Good Morning Ulster Interview – Ferry User Concerns Empathetic Response to Regular Ferry User The frustration expressed by the regular ferry user this morning is completely understandable. For families using the Strangford-Portaferry ferry service for essential journeys—school runs, family visits, and community activities like GAA coaching—these cumulative fare increases represent a significant and […]
From a historical perspective, the shift from limited, mediated access to politicians—such as through letter-writing, constituency surgeries, or formal appointments—to the instantaneous, unfiltered 24/7 interactions enabled by social media has indeed introduced significant challenges for representatives in the UK, including Northern Ireland. While this evolution has democratized communication in some ways, allowing for broader public […]
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Demand Isn’t the Problem: Infrastructure Capacity Is Holding Northern Ireland Back Executive Summary Northern Ireland’s infrastructure challenge is not a lack of demand for housing, jobs, or investment. It is a lack of capacity in essential networks, particularly wastewater infrastructure and, increasingly, electricity. Independent audit evidence shows that in many towns and cities, infrastructure systems […]
Top 25 Metrics Increasing in Northern Ireland (Focusing on Negative Indicators Like Delays) Based on recent statistics from 2024-2025, here’s a compiled list of the top 25 metrics that have shown upward trends in Northern Ireland. These primarily cover areas like healthcare delays, economic pressures, social issues, and health challenges, ranked roughly by sector and […]
A New Year, A New Opportunity: The Strangford Lough Crossing Campaign Enters 2026 January 2026 As we enter 2026, the Strangford Lough Crossing campaign stands at a pivotal moment. Behind the statistics and technical documents lies a simple human story: communities divided by water that should be connected by infrastructure, families facing daily choices between […]
Casement Park Update January 2026 As we enter 2026 and to communicate clearly, to grassroots GAA followers, what is known about Casement Park and based on the publically available information, as of today, the sources referenced in this Casement Park Status Update are: These three sources provided the factual information on the project status, financial […]
The Missing Link: How Strangford Lough Crossing Unlocks Cross-Border Rail Access January 2026 Ireland’s Dublin-Belfast Enterprise train service has achieved 40% passenger growth since October 2024—a Shared Island success story. Yet 164,200 peninsula residents remain excluded by one barrier: the Strangford Ferry. The Ferry Constraint Operating just 15.25 hours daily (07:30-22:45), the ferry creates an […]
Kellie, thank you for engaging with the Strangford Lough Crossing proposal following the Chronicle coverage, which actually never mentioned SLC. MLA is simply requesting a feasibility study as part of a ‘focused, coherent plan’. I appreciate you sharing your concerns via Facebook response to the article, and I’d like to address each point with the […]
M1/M2 legal enablement; A5 quicksands; a depolitized delivery way forward for remainder of current mandate and into next. The M1 and M2 motorways in Northern Ireland were legally enabled primarily through the Special Roads Act (Northern Ireland) 1963, which provided the statutory authority for designating and constructing “special roads” (the legal term for motorways) restricted […]
True Words: ‘Time to Move from the Politics of Posturing to Problem-Solving’ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Irish News article titled “Time to Move from the Politics of Posturing to Problem-Solving” (21 December 2025) appears to address a critical theme directly relevant to the Strangford Lough Crossing (SLC) campaign: the need for Northern Ireland’s political institutions to […]
Planning applications received by council in Northern Ireland: Changes from 2021/22 to 2024/25 Overall, planning application volumes peaked in 2021/22 (13,600 total received, post-COVID recovery) and have declined steadily since, reaching 9,716 in 2024/25 — a cumulative decrease of ~28.5% over three years. The pattern is broadly similar across councils: most saw significant drops, reflecting […]
Year-on-year planning application volumes in Northern Ireland (financial years, April to March) show a downward trend in recent years, based on official statistics from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and NISRA. Recent annual figures for applications received: This indicates a post-2021 peak decline, with volumes dropping over 28% from 2021/22 to 2024/25. Longer-term context suggests […]
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Why a Bridge Matters: What a Major Economic Report Tells Us About Our Region Understanding the economics behind the Strangford Lough Bridge The Report Everyone’s Talking About In December 2025, Ireland’s leading economic research organization (the ESRI) published a major study comparing economic performance across Ireland and Northern Ireland. While it might sound like dry […]
Strangford Lough Crossing: Building the Case for Strategic Infrastructure A Comprehensive Analysis of Need, Viability, and Best Practice Delivery December 2024Kevin Barry BSc(Hons) MRICS Executive Summary The Strangford Lough Crossing (SLC) represents one of Northern Ireland’s most significant unrealised infrastructure opportunities. A permanent crossing between Portaferry and Strangford would: This analysis examines the evidence base […]
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Why Northern Ireland Needs to Use All 24 Hours of the Day — and Why the Strangford Lough Crossing (SLC) Is a Critical First Step Northern Ireland’s long-term productivity problem is well known. Output per worker lags the UK average, investment is low, and our rural areas suffer from restricted accessibility and limited economic participation. […]
Why Northern Ireland’s Productivity Can Only Rise by Using All 24 Hours — Lessons from the World Northern Ireland consistently ranks near the bottom of UK productivity tables.The reasons are familiar: small firms, weak infrastructure, limited capital investment, rural geography, and a historic dependence on public-sector employment. But the biggest structural constraint is rarely acknowledged: […]
Do Bridges Kill Villages? What UK and Irish Evidence Really Says About Strangford–Portaferry During an Adjournment Debate on traffic flows in Newtownards, Kellie Armstrong MLA said she does “not agree with the idea of a bridge from Portaferry to Strangford”, arguing that: “The villages would end overnight because the bridge would not be where the […]
HANSARD ADJOURNMENT DEBATE – 25 NOVEMBER 2025- Traffic Flows in Newtownards COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS: Technical Engineering Context and Traffic Demand Evidence Document Reference: Official Report (Hansard), Tuesday 25 November 2025, Volume 185, No 2, Pages 59-66 Debate Topic: Traffic Flow in Newtownards Technical References: DEBATE CONTEXT AND PARTICIPANTS How the Debate Came About The Adjournment Debate […]
Top 20 Credible Revenue-Raising Options for Northern Ireland (Ranked by Real-World Feasibility & Yield) Northern Ireland faces a structural fiscal gap of £1–2 billion per year, leaving the Executive with two choices: raise more revenue or cut already thin public services. Here are the 20 most credible, defensible and realistic revenue-raising options, ranked from highest […]
How Many of the 29,000 Daily Journeys Would Actually Use a Strangford Bridge? One of the stock lines we hear from DfI officials is this: “You have no proof that anyone from the wider traffic corridor would use a bridge. All we know is how many vehicles use the ferry today.” On the surface that […]
Why the Ards Peninsula Is Gridlocked — And How a Strangford Crossing Fixes It If you live anywhere on the Ards Peninsula, you already know the problem:the Newtownards–Portaferry Road (A20) is bursting at the seams. Click on image below for more in depth calculations Every weekday brings the same routine: What most people don’t realise […]
Ranking Northern Ireland’s Road Schemes by Safety Priority A Neutral, Evidence-Led Assessment of Major Current and Proposed Schemes Improving road safety remains one of the most cost-effective interventions available to policymakers in Northern Ireland. While discussions about road investment often focus on economic development, regional balance or political visibility, the single most important criterion for […]
Alert: Vacant Property Rates About to Skyrocket to 100% – NI Owners, Don’t Let This Drain Your Profits! As a non-domestic property owner in Northern Ireland, the clock is ticking on your vacant units. Finance Minister John O’Dowd recently confirmed plans to phase out the 50% relief on rates for empty commercial properties, ramping up […]
The 32 Core Subjects in Any Serious Debate About a United Ireland A balanced, structured framework across nationalist and unionist concerns — and how solvable each issue actually is. Debate around a potential United Ireland is usually loud on emotion and quiet on structure. To have a genuinely useful conversation, each side needs a clear […]
“We can’t afford a £300m bridge.” Really! Every time the idea of a fixed link across Strangford Lough comes up, somebody in or around the Executive says the same thing: “We’d love to – but there’s simply no money.” Not that money is being asked for but simply a proper independent feasibility study into an […]
Summary of the Northern Ireland Constitutional Preference Index (NICPI) The NICPI is a professional, evidence-based composite indicator designed to assist the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in objectively assessing whether a majority in Northern Ireland would likely support Irish unification in a border poll, as required under the Good Friday Agreement. It aggregates data […]
Northern Ireland Schemes – Deep Soundings, Week Ending 7 November 2025 This week in NI construction feels like classic “two steps forward, one step sideways”: some long-promised regeneration schemes finally clear planning, tourist projects move into the spotlight, but the big strategic roads and stadiums are still stuck in the mud. Here’s a QS-style sweep […]
Northern Ireland Executive 2025-26 Budget Info Sheet on All Possible Charges Aired This info sheet compiles all revenue-raising charges (fees, rates, and other cost-passing measures) that have been publicly “aired” — meaning proposed, discussed, consulted on, or ruled out — in the context of the Northern Ireland Executive’s 2025-26 Budget process. Sources include the Draft […]
UK Construction Warning Indicators Q4 2025 UK Construction: Surface Stability, Deep Trouble Ahead Official figures might suggest UK construction is holding steady, but beneath the surface, the foundations are cracking fast. Output has grown by around 1%, yet almost every forward-looking indicator signals a sector sliding into contraction. The data from ONS, S&P Global, and […]
Equity Trap, Crumbling Infrastructure, and the Warming Frog: Why Ireland Needs Radical Action Now Families across Ireland are trapped in rising equity but falling access to real wealth. As Northern Ireland politics stall and infrastructure decays, China powers ahead. Radical transport, housing, and land-use reform are urgently needed before the economy reaches boiling point. Ireland’s […]
Then and Now: Why One Wage Bought a Dublin Home in 1968 — But Two Can’t Today Introduction Across Ireland, a familiar question keeps resurfacing:How could an ordinary worker once buy a three-bed semi-detached house in Dublin on a single income — while today’s generation, even with two salaries, cannot? The contrast between 1968 and […]
Why DfI Civil Service Blocks Consideration of the Strangford Lough Crossing (SLC) Briefing for MLAs and Councillors – October 2025 Summary Despite public, economic and safety arguments in favour of a fixed link across Strangford Lough, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) civil service continues to block even a basic feasibility study. The position has remained […]
Introduction: A Single Island Standard of Care — Linking Option B, the Bengoa Vision, and the Strangford Lough Crossing Northern Ireland’s health system stands at the same crossroads the Bengoa Report (2016) identified:too many hospitals, stretched rotas, inconsistent outcomes, and unsustainable duplication.Eight years on, the fundamental message remains valid — safety and sustainability require networks, […]
Marlborough House, Craigavon – From Modernist Ambition to Protected Heritage October 2025 | By Kevin Barry Marlborough House in Craigavon has now been officially granted Grade B1 listed building status by the Department for Communities’ Historic Environment Division (HED).This confirms its recognition as a structure of special architectural and historic interest — and firmly ends […]
NORTHERN IRELAND PUBLIC FINANCES Funding Position, Pressures, and Cross-Department Progress Dashboard (October 2025) 1. Background – £3.3 Billion Settlement and 24 Percent Uplift In early 2024 the UK Government and the restored Northern Ireland Executive agreed a £3.3 billion funding package to stabilise services, fund overdue pay settlements, and enable reform.The Barnett Formula “needs-based factor” […]
The Long Road (and Ferry Queue) to Nowhere — How the Strangford Lough Crossing Was Always Made to Seem “Uneconomic” 1. The 1950s–1960s: The first serious bridge dream After the war, engineers across the UK were busy linking estuaries — Tay, Forth, and Menai. At Strangford, the logic was obvious: a fixed crossing would link […]
Construction Sector Health: Northern Ireland vs. Republic of Ireland (Oct 2025) Metric Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland Activity (PMI, Sep 2025) 45.2 (↓ 5% YoY) 43.7 (↓ 2.2 pts MoM, 3-yr low) Project Starts (Q3 2025) £422m (↓ 51% YoY) 1,653 homes (↑ 43% MoM) Key Projects Strabane Water, Belfast Greenway MetroLink (€12.6B), Kilshane Energy […]
Latest news on Casement Park The Casement Park redevelopment saga in West Belfast continues to be a hot topic, blending sports, politics, and community tensions. The GAA stadium, dormant since 2013, is slated for a 30,000+ capacity rebuild but faces funding issues. Plenty of drama over costs, delays, and sectarian divides. As of October 22, […]
Building a World-Class Environmental Regulator for NI — Score: 9/10 (Oct 2025) Northern Ireland needs an independent environmental regulator for a simple reason: rules only work when someone trusted enforces them fairly. Today, problems like sewage spills, illegal dumping, polluted rivers and damaged habitats can fall between departments, take too long to fix, or leave […]
Northern Ireland Audit Office Report – 21 October 2025 Audit Exposes Major Failures in Northern Ireland’s Energy Strategy Publisher: Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO)Comptroller and Auditor General: Dorinnia CarvilleSubject: Review of Northern Ireland’s Energy Strategy “Path to Net Zero Energy” (2022–2030) Summary Verdict “Significant flaws in the implementation of the Energy Strategy.Expenditure of £107 million […]
NI Planning System, worrying trends and stalled applications Graphics below setting out ascending order of Approvals amongst all Councils and Strategic Planning Division Below is a narrative summary of planning approval trends across Northern Ireland (2017–18 to 2024–25) — based on the released planning data covering the period: 🏗️ Overview Between 2017–18 and 2024–25, Northern […]
Origin and history of the Clerk of Works (CoW), Evolution to Modern Failures & Future Remedies Here’s a detailed account of the origin and history of the Clerk of Works (CoW) in the United Kingdom, tracing how the role evolved from medieval times to the modern professional post we know today: 1. Medieval Origins (13th–15th […]
The Real Cost of Neglect: A QS View on Northern Ireland’s School Estate Crisis By Quintin QS — 16 October 2025 The Northern Ireland Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has delivered one of the most damning assessments ever of how we manage public infrastructure. Its Report on Managing the Schools’ Estate reads like a case […]
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How Strangford “Almost” Got a Bridge The story reveals a consistent pattern: proposals gained momentum due to genuine transport needs and local campaigning, but were repeatedly blocked by a combination of technical challenges, cost concerns, political opposition, and later, environmental protection. Historical Timeline of Proposals & Objections 1840s-1875: Early Estate-Driven Proposals 1920s-1930s: Post-WWI Government Plans […]
Here’s a one-page summary table of the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill (NI) 2025 — showing each major change, who it affects, and what it means in practice: 🧾 Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill (NI) 2025 — Summary of Top 15 Changes Rank Key Change / Clause Who It Affects Practical […]
Facts v Fiction. Review of NI AADT figures, SLC viability. DfI flawed assessment should respectfully reconsider using UK TAG methodology. FoI information unpacked. Ministerial queries raised. In order to assess SLC correctly and fairly, it is important to source relative comparisons and figures, to put forward a counterbalanced argument and let the people decide, without […]
Based on the UK Planning & Infrastructure Bill (2025), the most significant and long-overdue changes — those both developers and the UK Government argue are essential for growth — fall into five main reform areas: 1. Streamlining Major Infrastructure Planning What’s changing:The Bill reforms the Planning Act 2008 to simplify and accelerate Development Consent Orders […]
Summary of the UK Planning & Infrastructure Bill (In Progress) The UK Planning & Infrastructure Bill is a wide-ranging legislative proposal designed to modernise, streamline, and centralise the processes by which large-scale infrastructure, development, and environmental projects are planned, approved, and delivered across the UK. It updates key elements of the Planning Act 2008, Energy […]
To help the persuadables, enabling works are required to show the benefits of unity, within Northern Ireland. Ɓread and butter issues are uppermost in many peoples minds on a daily basis. Here’s the strategic rationale for framing “united Northern Ireland” ahead of broader Irish unity aspirations which may or may not provide further overall benefits […]
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Dublin’s MetroLink is a planned underground metro line connecting Swords to Charlemont in the city, offering several key benefits based on project details and analyses: Overview of Economic Impacts Dublin’s MetroLink project is projected to deliver substantial economic benefits through improved transport efficiency, reduced congestion, and enhanced connectivity, particularly along the Swords-Dublin Airport-city Centre corridor. […]
Understanding Reprofiling of Capital Expenditure in the UK Government Context Reprofiling of capital expenditure refers to the strategic adjustment of the timing and allocation of government capital spending—such as investments in infrastructure, buildings, and major projects—across fiscal years, without necessarily altering the overall total budget envelope. This process is often undertaken to align spending with […]
Bangor Marina, located in the coastal town of Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland, is the largest marina facility on the island of Ireland, with over 500 berths and a prestigious five-gold-anchor accreditation. Opened in 1989, it transformed the town’s historic harbour—originally renovated in 1917—into a modern boating hub on Belfast Lough, capitalizing on Bangor’s long-standing […]
As of September 30, 2025, several construction-related projects and frameworks in Northern Ireland are out to tender or open for ongoing applications. These include dynamic shortlisting systems (frameworks that remain open for suppliers to apply) from the Education Authority, as well as specific tenders aggregated from industry sources. Note that public tenders are typically advertised […]
Overview of Light Rail Concepts Around Strangford LoughBased on available information, there are no existing or proposed light rail (or tram) concepts specifically designed to loop around Strangford Lough in County Down, Northern Ireland. Strangford Lough is a large marine inlet spanning about 150 square km, with a perimeter that would require a loop of […]
Contained below is a summary of the main law reform currently being advanced by the Northern Ireland Executive (and Assembly) around Dilapidations / derelict / neglected sites & buildings. Key Reform: The Dilapidation Bill The principal legislative development is the Dilapidation Bill, which has been approved by the NI Executive (5 June 2025) and is […]
The resurgence of interest in building new towns or large-scale urban developments in the UK and Ireland The resurgence of interest in building new towns or large-scale urban developments in the UK and Ireland stems from a combination of acute housing shortages, rapid population growth, economic pressures, and the need for sustainable, infrastructure-supported communities. This […]
The growing problems with ductwork and pipework in new buildings across the UK, and particularly in Northern Ireland, stem from a combination of systemic, technical, and regulatory factors. While the issues are multifaceted, a common pattern is emerging, characterized by underfunding, poor design, inadequate installation practices, and insufficient maintenance planning. Below is a detailed analysis […]
The Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model is a financing approach designed to attract private investment into large infrastructure projects by sharing construction and operational risks between developers and consumers. Under this model, a company is granted the right to charge consumers for the construction and operation of new infrastructure through their utility bills, providing a […]
Following the Ards and North Down Borough Council’s recent decision to maintain a hybrid operating model for leisure services (rejecting full outsourcing or privatization), balancing the books will require a mix of revenue enhancement, cost efficiencies, and strategic planning. This approach aligns with the council’s 2025/26 budget, which already incorporates £1.7 million in efficiencies and […]
Barometer of NI Construction activity update Overview As of September 26, 2025, Northern Ireland’s construction sector continues to show overall expansion based on official Q2 2025 data, but with significant underlying vulnerabilities. The NISRA Construction Output Bulletin for Q2 (April-June 2025) reported a 15-year high in output, up 3.8% quarterly and 7.3% annually. However, this […]
Educational Short Video Clips: Understanding Uses and Complexities in the Construction Industry As a hub for Quantity Surveying (QS) updates and construction insights, we bring you this curated collection of short educational video clips. These resources are designed to help professionals, students, and enthusiasts grasp the key categories and sub-categories within the construction industry. Focusing […]
Why the UK Construction Industry Should Explore Vinted for Sustainable and Cost-Effective Opportunities In an era where sustainability and circular economies are at the forefront of business strategies, platforms like Vinted are revolutionizing how we buy and sell second-hand goods. Originally known for fashion, Vinted has expanded its categories to include a variety of items […]
Housing completions across UK & Ireland (2015-2024) Comparing official housing completions across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Ireland (Republic of Ireland) over the past 10 years (2015–2024) is challenging due to differences in data collection, definitions, and reporting periods across these regions. Housing is a devolved matter in the UK, and each nation has […]
The Celtic Interconnector is a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine power cable project designed to link the electricity grids of Ireland and France for the first time, marking Ireland’s first direct interconnector with another EU member state following Brexit. And provides supply outside the British Isles, which had reliable supply issues in the early 1970’s, […]
Yes, there is a clear regional imbalance in job creation across Northern Ireland, with employment opportunities, productivity, and economic growth heavily concentrated in and around Belfast and eastern regions. According to the 2021 census, just over 50% of Northern Ireland’s population lives in the highlighted red and yellow area in the map above. This area […]
Understanding Construction Programming: Leveraging MS Project for Success, Especially Under NEC Contracts. In the fast-paced world of construction, effective project planning and management are essential to delivering projects on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. At Quintin QS, we specialize in providing expert quantity surveying and cost management services to help clients […]
The Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill is a piece of proposed legislation in Northern Ireland aimed at improving how water is managed, reducing flood risks, and promoting more environmentally friendly drainage systems. It’s designed to help Northern Ireland Water (NI Water, the public water utility) work more efficiently, especially in the face of […]
The Scandal of Belfast’s New Maternity Hospital: A Decade of Delays, Debts, and Dangers In the heart of Belfast, on the grounds of the Royal Victoria Hospital, a gleaming new maternity unit was supposed to revolutionize maternal and neonatal care for Northern Ireland. Announced over a decade ago, this £97 million project promised state-of-the-art facilities […]
The Portaferry Cohousing project, located on a 10-acre site north of Cloughey Road in Portaferry (behind Rectory Wood), is set to be the first co-housing development in Northern Ireland. It features 32 eco-friendly detached and semi-detached homes built to Passive House standards, each with private gardens and kitchens. Additional elements include a large Common House […]
Ards Borough Council merged with North Down Borough Council on April 1, 2015, to form Ards and North Down Borough Council. Introduction Outsourcing leisure services, such as the management of sports centers, gyms, and recreational facilities, has been a common strategy for UK local councils aiming to address budgetary pressures and improve efficiency. This approach […]
NISRA has published figures on NI spending from 2015 to 2025. Looking at the spending figures in the context of a potential united Ireland scenario, there would be several significant financial pressures and adjustments to consider: Based on the comprehensive data from both documents, here’s an analysis of how Northern Ireland’s spending figures would compare […]
The funding from the Northern Ireland Football Fund, as announced on September 11, 2025, is allocated across 20 clubs in various geographical regions of Northern Ireland. While exact per-club amounts haven’t been specified (only tier ranges: Tier 3 >£6m, Tier 2 £1.5m-£6m, Tier 1 <£1.5m), the distribution can be analyzed by traditional county lines as […]
The original £36.2 million budget for the Sub-Regional Stadia Programme, earmarked in 2011, would hypothetically need to be adjusted to approximately £59.4 million in 2025 terms to account for increased construction costs, based on the UK Tender Price Index (TPI). This index measures changes in contractors’ pricing levels for building projects over time. To arrive […]
The “common good” (also known as the “public good” or “public interest”) is a philosophical and legal principle rooted in political theory, dating back to thinkers like Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas, and later formalized in modern governance. It refers to actions, policies, or decisions that benefit society as a whole, rather than prioritizing individual or […]
Gordon Lyons (Northern Ireland’s Minister for Communities and Sports Minister) has released details on the funding for football infrastructure through the Northern Ireland Football Fund. The announcement was made today, September 11, 2025, during a live event, where he outlined which clubs will progress to the next stage of funding allocation from the £36.2 million […]
The top 5 hold-ups in building social housing in the UK, based on a synthesis of reports from government, think tanks, and industry sources, are as follows. These represent the most commonly cited barriers affecting new construction and delivery:
Key Watchdogs Highlighting Cost Overruns in Irish Government Projects The primary watchdog in Ireland for auditing public accounts and highlighting cost overruns is the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), whose reports are often reviewed by the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) also critiques broader fiscal spending overruns. Based on […]
Revolutionizing Construction Procurement: An Update on QUANTUM ALL ISLAND’s Tiered Access Levels In the fast-evolving world of construction, where efficiency, transparency, and cost control are paramount, innovative platforms like QUANTUM ALL ISLAND are making waves across Ireland. Developed over 12 years by Quintin QS, a leading quantity surveying firm in Northern Ireland, this digital tool […]
Key Legal Developments as of September 2025 The Irish construction industry is experiencing significant regulatory changes in 2025, driven by efforts to enhance standards, sustainability, worker protections, and infrastructure delivery. Below is a summary of the most recent and impactful legal news, based on developments up to September 2025. 1. Sectoral Employment Order (SEO) for […]
Starting a monthly update, here is a list of the top 10 issues currently important to building contractors and clients in Northern Ireland, based on recent industry reports and forecasts. These reflect challenges in September 2025 and anticipated trends leading into December 2025, such as ongoing economic pressures, infrastructure limitations, and policy developments. I’ve prioritized […]
UK Construction PMI: A Glimmer of Hope Amid Calls for Bold ReformThe UK construction sector has been navigating choppy waters, but the latest figures offer a ray of optimism. Released today, the S&P Global UK Construction PMI for August 2025 climbed to 45.5, surpassing expectations of 45.0 and marking an improvement from July’s 44.3. While […]
