Instrumental in upgrading, renewing and transforming communities north and south of the border through delivering a range of innovative, industry-leading residential and commercial projects, Lowry Construction is one of Ireland’s most versatile and dependable building contractors. We touched base with Contracts Director William Lowry and Health & Safety Manager Lee Williamson to get an update.
Headquartered in Castlederg, County Tyrone, Lowry Construction is a vastly-experienced, highly-adaptable building contractor boasting a wealth of experience in successfully completing all types of private and public sector residential and commercial projects, including social housing, education, retail, healthcare, community and private housing developments.
While the company was only established in its present incarnation in 2011, the Lowry family boast an exceptional track record dating back much further as they have been synonymous with invariably providing unrivalled construction solutions both locally and nationally for over half a century.
In recent times, Lowry Construction has developed a stellar reputation for their outstanding work in the realm of social housing, delivering a series of magnificent schemes both in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Indeed, at the time of writing, the social housing department of the much-sought-after contracting company was active on a number of schemes across a number of sites either side of the border, projecting that more than 80 units will be handed over during the current calendar year alone.
These include the landmark Luí na Gréine scheme in Scotstown, where an unfinished housing estate is being completed on behalf of Monaghan County Council, for whom Lowry Construction have also been appointed to complete the largescale Clones Renewal Scheme, which is transforming the face of the iconic border town.
Building works on the award-winning Clones Renewal Scheme – undertaken to achieve multiple positive impacts, including sustaining the local population and improving the vitality of the town along with renewed confidence and stimulating development opportunities on adjoining sites – commenced in September, 2019, and comprise the delivery of 21 housing units at six different locations on Fermanagh Street and Analore Street.
Secured through a separate tender, the Luí na Gréine project commenced six months later and consists of the completion of four unfinished, derelict houses alongside the construction of 28 new houses on a derelict site in Scotstown, bound between the Smithborough and Roslea roads. The site was acquired by Monaghan County Council through the Derelict Sites Act 1990 to resolve the derelict nature of the unfinished housing development.
In total, Luí na Gréine consists of 32 properties including four two-bedroom single-storey houses, twelve two-bedroom two-storey houses, twelve three-bedroom two-storey houses and four four-bedroom two-storey houses. All homes will be built to the highest quality for modern living, with a Building Energy Rating of A3 or above. The architect on this project is Enda Gilsenan from Wynne Gormley Gilsenan Architects & Surveyors Ltd., with whom the Lowry Construction team has developed a wonderful working relationship.
“We are delighted to be working with Monaghan County Council on these two vital schemes,” notes Contracts Director William Lowry. “Unfortunately, we had a couple of stoppages due to the public health restrictions, which interrupted the progress of the Scotstown project. But it is going very well and will be handed over in phases.
“At the moment, we are working on a variety of commercial and residential projects, including a new church hall on the grounds of Ray Presbyterian Church in Manorcunningham, County Donegal, a church hall renovation in Lisburn and a shop extension and renovation in a live environment on behalf of the Henderson Group at Eurospar, Castlederg.” In August, 2020, a new church hall was completed at Drumlegagh, County Tyrone.
Lowry Construction are busy delivering numerous social housing schemes in Northern Ireland. These include 15 apartments at Broughshane Street, Ballymena for Choice Housing Association; 23 houses in Dungiven for Apex Housing Association as well as another 20-unit scheme for Apex in Ballycastle; and six units of social housing in Strathfoyle, outside Derry, for the Rural Housing Association.
Meanwhile, the 36 social housing apartments constructed at Graham Gardens, Lisburn for Clanmill Housing Association were shortlisted for the prestigious 2019 CIF Awards, while the stunning Bethany Community Centre, Limavady – completed in September, 2020 – was a finalist at the 2021 CEF Awards. Clones Renewal Scheme scooped the Excellence in Planning Award at the 2019 KPMG Irish Independent Property Industry Excellence Awards.
“While the margins might be modest in social housing, we see this as our bread and butter,” William continues. “It’s steady work and it provides us with a very solid base to work off and we can complement this by picking up a few commercial jobs as well.”
Lowry Construction has grown steadily since inception, due largely to their committed approach, attention to detail and vast in-house expertise. They pride themselves on providing high-quality workmanship, applying innovative techniques and efficient methods to consistently produce highly-successful projects irrespective of how formidable, challenging or complex the brief may be.
“You take each job as it comes and you treat it as a priority,” adds Lee Williamson (Health & Safety). “Each project will come with its own complexities but we enjoy problem solving and like to build up working relationships with our clients.
“These have been unusual times with a lot of unknowns between the disruptions caused by the pandemic, the increase in the cost of raw materials and labour shortages caused by both Brexit and Covid. But we are moving forward in a steady manner and we have a nice selection of work ahead of us.”
At the heart of the business is an excellent team of personnel, from management level through to site foremen, project managers and experienced, motivated tradesmen. Gainful employment is generated for 35 staff directly as well as a large number of regular, tried-and-trusted subcontractors, all of whom are cognisant of the high standards expected by Lowry Construction to get every project over the line.
Lowry Construction Ltd.,
30 Carncorn Road,
Castlederg,
County Tyrone.
Tel: 028 8167 0263
Fax: 028 8167 1227
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.lowryconstruction.co.uk
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, January 2022, Vol 8 No 1
