Emma Little-Pengelly, Northern Ireland deputy First Minister, recently visited Porter & Co’s new Governors Gate Demesne development in Hillsborough. The deputy First Minister toured the site, met representatives from NHBC and Porter & Co and learned about the latest in high-quality house building and modern construction practice.
NHBC’s Regional Director for Northern Ireland, Padraig Venney, NHBC’s Northern Ireland Chairman, David McCallum and Porter & Co’s owner, Bill Porter, accompanied the deputy First Minister on her visit. Located off the Ballynahinch Road at the walled boundary of Hillsborough Forest Park, Governors Gate Demesne is a Georgian village-styled development of detached and semi-detached homes.
During her tour Mrs Little-Pengelly learned about quality, sustainable construction, green house building and how a construction site is managed. She discussed the current priorities of the Executive and the infrastructure pressures impacting housing delivery in Northern Ireland, as well as the skills shortage and the steps being taken to address these challenges.
Mrs Little-Pengelly also congratulated Governors Gate Demesne’s award-winning Site Manager Michael Poole for his recent NHBC Pride in Job award win. Mr Poole was recently awarded an NHBC Pride in the Job Awards Seal of Excellence for his high standards of workmanship and attention to detail.
The Pride in the Job Awards reflect the commitment new home warranty and insurance provider NHBC has to raising standards in the house-building industry across the UK. It recognises and celebrates the vital role site managers play in ensuring new homes are delivered to exacting standards.
Padraig Venney, Regional Director for Northern Ireland at NHBC, commented, “We were pleased to welcome the deputy First Minister to Governors Gate Demesne, and would like to thank her for taking the time to tour the site and meet with us. It’s a fantastic example of beautiful, quality, modern housebuilding and Site Manager Michael Poole is well-deserving of his recent NHBC Pride in the Job Seal of Excellence win. The homes at Governors Gate Demesne will be enjoyed by their residents for many years to come and we are delighted Mrs Little-Pengelly took time out of her busy schedule to learn about the great work being undertaken in the new build industry”.
Emma Little-Pengelly, Northern Ireland deputy First Minister, commented, “I was delighted to meet with Michael at Governors Gate Demesne and see the product of his and his colleagues’ hard work, along with the company owner. The high-quality homes I visited on the site are a testament to modern house building and it was good to discuss some of the challenges facing the housing sector in Northern Ireland at the moment. It’s fantastic the great work of the new build sector is recognised and celebrated through NHBC’s Pride in the Job Awards. My congratulations to Porter & Co and Michael on this well-deserved accolade.”
Bill Porter, owner at Porter & Co, commented, “We were delighted Michael’s dedication and attention to detail was recognised when he won his NHBC Pride in the Job Awards Seal of Excellence. Having the opportunity to showcase his achievements at Governors Gate Demesne for the deputy First Minister’s was an honour and we thank her for finding the time to visit us.”
For over 40 years NHBC’s Pride in the Job awards have championed the highest standards of house building in the UK. The homes Mrs Little-Pengelly visited will be enjoyed by their residents for decades to come.
