200 job kickstart to construction sector
A HOUSING development on the outskirts of Belfast marks a significant upturn in the construction market with news yesterday that property development company the McGinnis Group is to create 200 jobs.
Announcing that work on Coopers Mill in Dundonald was well underway, Martin Canning of the McGinnis Group said it was time for other firms to get back to work and get the economy moving again.
Coopers Mill is a village development comprising more than 400 homes in houses and apartments where work is now underway. The 200 jobs are at site level and involve a number of sub-contractors offering a welcome boost to the hard hit local construction sector.
“Following a period of uncertainty in the housing market we believe there is a build up of latent demand,” said Mr Canning.
“We aim to provide the right housing and the right price which should go a long way towards helping to get the housing market here moving again. We are delighted our commitment has led to the creation of jobs in the industry and hope this will lead to further job opportunities. We are actively seeking local suppliers to provide labour, plant and materials.”
The Coopers Mill site at Dundonald is part of a multi million-pound acquisition of land which also included the purchase of sites at Carryduff, Cairnshill and Coleraine totalling 87 acres and with existing planning permission for 901 homes.
“We have said local people and companies are the key to pulling the Northern Ireland economy out of the recession,” added Mr Canning.
“We are willing to show leadership on that front but in doing so, we are making a good business decision also - the pent-up demand is there if the prices and the mortgages are right we know that these developments will be successful. Job losses have been all too common in the construction industry and, despite falling prices, first time buyers are still struggling to get on the property ladder. By going on site, we are sending a message that it is high time local companies took positive action to kickstart the local construction industry."
The McGinnis Group was created in 1978 by John McGinnis and has offices in Eglinton, Belfast and Leeds. The land involved was formerly owned by Taggart Group which went into administration in October last year and was sold to McGinnis earlier this year for an undisclosed sum.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Belfast
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 11 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
