IN THIS ISSUE
Editor’s COMMENT A TESTAMENT TO WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED Welcome to our December/January edition, equipping you with all you need to know to get ahead in the Northern Ireland construction industry in 2025. Inside you’ll find the latest news on key people, products, projects, businesses and brands operating in the sector, updates from representative organisations CEF, FMB, CITB and CIOB, and full coverage of winners at The Concrete Society NI Region Awards and Octabuild Builders’ Merchant Excellence Awards. We also look at industry prospects for the year and the new Housing Supply Strategy for NI, while project profiles include three schools, Mill Strand IPS in Portrush, Phoenix IPS in Cookstown and Gaelscoil Ui Dhochartaigh in Strabane. Another standout build, our striking cover star NI Fire & Rescue Service Learning & Development College in Cookstown, really is a one-of-a- kind project featuring many unique elements and serving as a showcase for innovation. With public sector spending limitations widely cited as the main barrier to growth in the NI construction industry, this project stands as testament to what can be achieved with the right funding in place. On behalf of the team, we would like to thank our readers and advertisers for your support in 2024, and wish you all health, happiness and good trade in 2025. Alyson Magee
CONTENTS
ISSUE 35-6 DEC/JAN 2025
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16 In Focus: Lowry Building & Civil Engineering Ltd has transformed a challenging brownfield site in Portrush into a new energy-efficient primary school and nursery. 30 Products: KDM Hire has supplied three Combi-CBE forklifts from its Go Green category to enhance efficiency and sustainability in Keystone Lintels’ warehouse operations. 33 News & Views: Outstanding people, projects and innovative processes were recognised at The Concrete Society NI Region Awards, held in the Europa Hotel Belfast on October 24. 44 In Focus: Felix O’Hare has delivered a new £50m training college for NI Fire & Rescue Service in Cookstown featuring many unique elements to recreate realistic scenarios… 67 Products: Grant is demonstrating its commitment to developing innovative heating solutions with the launch of the new aesthetically-pleasing Aerona R290 heat pump. 80 News & Views: Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has launched a Housing Supply Strategy to deliver at least 100,000 homes, of which a third will be social housing.
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Managing Director Karen McAvoy Editor Alyson Magee Publication Manager Karen Jess Production Team Julie Anne Guiney, Jo Hendron Chris McKeown Digital Communications Natasha Nelson Accounts Andrea Simpson Administration Laoise Boyle Photography Gordon McAvoy Printed by W&G Baird
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