NI Water’s recently completed Foyle Street Network Upgrades recently received a BREEAM Infrastructure rating of ‘Very Good’, recognising the sustainability-led approach taken throughout the delivery of the essential £4.2 milion water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades on Foyle Street, followed by the reinstatement of the Foyle Street Car Park in Derry/Londonderry last year.

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a leading global standard for assessing sustainability in the built environment, particularly with complex infrastructure projects.

NI Water Project Manager, Kieran Grant said:

“I would like to congratulate the entire project team on this prestigious BREEAM award, particularly the BSG PHACE site team and ARUP, with support from all our stakeholders, including Derry City and Strabane District Council and the City Centre Initiative.

“Stakeholder engagement with the local businesses and wider community was key on this major project, which will help deliver environmental benefits, including reduced risk of out-of-sewer flooding in the area while helping to support localised development in the short term.”

Over 130 site operatives - including apprentices, placement students and engineering trainees - were employed on the Foyle Street project, which involved the upgrade of the 100-year-old water and wastewater infrastructure between Shipquay Place and Water Street.

Clocking up almost 34,000 manhours, the BSG workforce successfully installed 400m of dedicated stormwater sewer and new foul sewer - to separate this section of the combined system - as well as 170m of new watermain. Over 50 connections to properties on Foyle Street were also undertaken to completely modernise the water and wastewater network in this part of the city.

Last year, the project was also registered onto the ‘Considerate Constructors’ Scheme and attained top marks (“Excellent” score of 45/45), highlighting the team’s high standards in safety, quality, and proactive community engagement.

Key features of BREEAM Infrastructure include:

• International Benchmark: It is a leading global standard for assessing sustainability in the built environment, particularly complex infrastructure projects.
• Comprehensive Assessment: Covers key categories including energy consumption, water management, material use, waste reduction, and ecology.
• Full Lifecycle Focus: Ensures sustainable practices from design to operation, supporting long-term performance and net-zero goals.
• Third-Party Assurance: Provides robust verification that builds trust among stakeholders, investors, and regulators.

BREEAM Infrastructure deliver a number of benefits, including financial efficiencies which lead to lower life-cycle costs through reduced energy, water, and raw material usage. Certified projects often see increased market value and higher leasing/selling speeds.

In terms of risk mitigation, it helps to future-proof projects against climate change impacts and strengthens ecological resilience.

In addition, it can also help regulatory compliance iby meeting growing legal and governmental sustainability requirements for infrastructure development.