Name: Drumglass Park SuDS Drop-in Event
Start: 2026-08-12T15:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-08-12T19:00:00+01:00
Location: Drumglass Park Bandstand

Contents

12 August drop-in at Drumglass Park Bandstand
A pond designed for heavy rainfall
Residents asked to test the details
How to have your say

Residents in South Belfast are being invited to a free public drop-in event on proposals for a new Sustainable Drainage System pond in Drumglass Park.

The Drumglass Park SuDS Drop-in Event will take place at Drumglass Park Bandstand on Wednesday 12 August 2026, from 3pm to 7pm. No booking is required, and local residents can call in during the session to speak with Belfast City Council and NI Water representatives.

The proposed pond is intended to help manage wastewater and reduce flood risk during periods of heavy rainfall in the Lisburn Road area. The project is being brought forward by NI Water in partnership with Belfast City Council and the Department for Infrastructure.

12 August drop-in at Drumglass Park Bandstand

The public consultation event is being held in the park itself, giving residents a chance to discuss the plans close to the proposed site.

Event details confirmed by Belfast City Council are:

Event: Drumglass Park SuDS Drop-in Event
Date: Wednesday 12 August 2026
Time: 3pm to 7pm
Venue: Drumglass Park Bandstand, South Belfast
Cost: Free
Entry: No booking required; drop-in event
Who should attend: Local residents and park users who want to view the proposals or provide feedback

Representatives from the council and NI Water are expected to be available to explain the plans and hear views in person. Residents can also view the plans and complete an online survey through the Your Say Belfast website.

A pond designed for heavy rainfall

The proposal would create a permanent SuDS pond with a landscaped area around it. According to the source information, the pond would only fill with rainwater occasionally and for short periods during heavy rainfall.

That stored water would then be released slowly into the existing drainage system at a controlled rate. The aim is to help stop local sewers becoming overwhelmed when rainfall puts extra pressure on the network.

The scheme is tied to the Lisburn Road area, where the project is intended to help manage wastewater and reduce flooding risk. The Department for Infrastructure is funding the work as part of the NI Executive’s Public Sector Transformation Fund.

Officials have also set out wider aims for the scheme, including improved wildlife habitat, more biodiversity, extra sewerage capacity to support economic growth, and opportunities to explain nature-based drainage solutions to the public.

Residents asked to test the details

Councillor Ian McLaughlin, chair of Belfast City Council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, said residents should have their say before decisions are made.

He described the pilot as a way for Belfast to help demonstrate nature-based drainage solutions for the city and wider region. He also said the council wanted to give people information about benefits, construction and the safety measures that are part of the pond’s design.

Minister for Infrastructure Liz Kimmins said the Department’s Transforming Urban Drainage project is intended to show how sustainable drainage can help manage water flow in towns and cities. She said nature-based solutions can reduce flood risk and pollution, and noted that the wider project aims to provide about 10,000 cubic metres of temporary stormwater storage.

NI Water Senior Project Manager Mark Sefton said NI Water looked forward to hearing public views through the online survey and the planned drop-in event at Drumglass Park.

How to have your say

Residents can attend the free drop-in session at Drumglass Park Bandstand on Wednesday 12 August 2026 between 3pm and 7pm.

Those who cannot attend in person can view the plans and share their views by completing the online survey on the Your Say Belfast website. The consultation concerns proposals for the new SuDS pond in Drumglass Park, delivered by NI Water with Belfast City Council and the Department for Infrastructure.

Source: Belfast City Council