Mark Browne, the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Education in Northern Ireland visited Mill Strand Integrated School & Nursery on 19 April 2023 to officially mark the commencement of construction of its new school on the Ballywillan Road in Portrush.
The sod cutting marks a pivotal moment in the school’s history and the start of a building process that will see the school relocate in the Spring of 2024.
Lowry Building & Civil Engineering Ltd have been appointed to construct the new school. The £12 million project, on the site of the former catering college, will deliver state-of-the-art facilities for pupils, staff, parents and the wider community, securing the future of Integrated Education in the area for generations to come.
Welcoming the investment from the Fresh Start Programme, supported by the UK Government, Dr Browne said: “Ongoing investment in our schools’ estate is essential if we are to continue to provide a high-quality education that our teachers and young people deserve, as well as the investment in our schools’ estate, it also helps to boost the local economy and secure construction jobs.
“I am certain that this investment will have a significant impact in supporting children in their learning and promoting positive relations in the local community.”
Acknowledging the work of the school and its stakeholders in bringing the project to this stage, the Permanent Secretary concluded: “This is a great day for everyone involved at Mill Strand Integrated Primary School and I am pleased that I could be here to mark the occasion. I wish the staff and school management every success for the future in their new facilities.”
Works on the site began in late February 2023 with final construction works due to be completed in late spring 2024.