NI Water's Kennedy Way Hub is a proposed mechanical and electrical workshop building with associated storage and ancillary office areas on the site of the former Kennedy Way Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW). The Kennedy Way Hub site extends to approximately 3.8 hectares and is located in West Belfast. It extends to approximately 60% of a wider NI Water site that until 2000 was the site of the Kennedy Way WWTW. The site has not been in use since 2000 and is now best described as vacant land, although the principal components of the former WWTW remain in place. The former Wastewater Treatment plant was in use since the early 1900s.

In August 2022, Northern Ireland Water Ltd submitted a planning application (LA04/2022/1479/F) proposing the partial redevelopment of former Kennedy Way Waste Water Treatment Works to include the development of new Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) workshops, storage, changing facilities and ancillary offices. The development will comprise of a total three new buildings 1) the main hub building; 2) a store to hold an alternative bottled water supply; and 3) a generator store.

The Kennedy Way Hub proposal forms a fundamental part of the works required to upgrade the Belfast Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) at Duncrue, which relies on the relocation of the existing Bretland House to the new Kennedy Way Hub. The Bretland House facility must be cleared to facilitate the main extension of the Belfast WWTW and Bretland House staff must therefore be relocated in order to facilitate the main Belfast WWTW upgrade works currently scheduled for 2024.

The new Kennedy Way Hub building, as proposed in this planning application, will provide replacement facilities for those staff currently based at Bretland House whose relocation needs are not already being planned for through other NI Water projects. The provision of this alternative accommodation will allow Bretland House to be demolished and an Inlet Sewer diverted prior to the main Belfast WWTW works commencing. It is intended that 32 no. management staff and their 67 no. operative staff will be attached to the newly proposed Kennedy Way Hub