Contractors appointed for new Rivers Agency base in Cookstown

Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Michelle O’Neill has announced the awarding of a construction contract for Rivers Agency’s new Headquarters in Cookstown.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Jul 2015, 12:05 BST
Loughry College in CookstownLoughry College in Cookstown
Loughry College in Cookstown

QMAC Construction Ltd, based in Dungannon, has been awarded the contract to build the new modern offices for Rivers Agency at Loughry Campus Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, which will accommodate up to 85 workstations. The construction contract is the next step in the process of relocating Rivers Agency from Belfast to Cookstown.

Announcing the award of the contract Minster O’Neill said: “I am pleased to announce that the contract to construct the new Rivers Agency Headquarters building at Loughry Campus in Cookstown has been awarded to QMAC Construction Ltd.

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“This new building represents a significant financial investment of £2million in the Cookstown area by my Department and will see the relocation of up to 85 public sector jobs to a rural setting.

Agriculture Minister Michelle O'NeillAgriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill
Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill

“Construction will take approximately 13 months and staff should be ready to move into their new fit for purpose modern accommodation towards the end of summer 2016.

“The award of this contract is a significant milestone in the Rivers Agency relocation project and the wider DARD programme to redistribute public sector jobs across the north. The wider programme, which recently saw the relocation of Fisheries Division to Downpatrick, will see Forest Service move to Enniskillen before the end of this year and the rest of my department relocating to Ballykelly in two phases in 2017 and 2020.”

Mid Ulster MLA Ian McCrea welcomed this latest step forward.

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“I welcome the news that local Dungannon firm QMAC Construction Ltd has bid and won the construction contract to build the new Rivers Agency Headquarters at the Loughry Campus in Cookstown; it is no secret that the Mid Ulster construction trade has been hit hard during the recession and this news is a welcome boost,” he said.

“It is anticipated that this project will bring a £2million investment to the area and will also relocate 85 public sector jobs with it. It is hoped that the build will be completed in 13 months and the new modern offices will be ready to open towards the end of the summer in 2016.”

Related topics:Michelle O'Neill