NIW has also confirmed that there are issues with the wastewater network in Cookstown.
Jim Eastwood from Cookstown Enterprise Centre says water constraints in the town were a devastating blow to growing businesses in the area.
“A busy bakery we’ve supported on the main street of Cookstown can’t move into a bigger premises because they cannot get a water connection,” he said.
“It’s devastating for a town like this, I’m just surprised and disappointed it has been allowed to get to this stage.”
Mid Ulster Council’s Chief Executive Adrian McCreesh said it was “extremely disappointing” that development was being hindered.
Speaking at a recent council meeting, McCreesh said: “There are ratepayers and citizens who can’t live in the communities in which they were born and reared.
“It is soul destroying to hear this year after year. The message doesn’t change.”
McCreesh was speaking as NIW gave a presentation to the council last month.
NIW acknowledged that some parts of the country were experiencing “severe restrictions on new housing developments” and that this was also leading to “slower business development”.
It outlined the “significant funding constraints impacting delivery of upgrades needed to support housing, economic growth and environmental protection”.
But it said there was investment in a number of wastewater treatment works including in Dungannon, Ballygawley and Moyola.
