NEWRY based Building Contractors O'Hare & McGovern in partnership with Interserve recently won the Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract to construct and operate the planned new Holy Cross College in Strabane.

Holy Cross will be the fourth Education PPP project that O'Hare & McGovern have successfully bid for along with consortium partners, the services and maintenance group, Interserve.

Speaking about the contract win Eamon O'Hare, Managing Director of O'Hare & McGovern said, "We are delighted to have reached the financial close on this project. This is an exciting new development for the people of Strabane as the new college will be an amalgamation of two secondary and one grammar school to provide an educational institution for up to 1800 pupils. The new Holy Cross College in Strabane will provide a state of the art education establishment for 11-18 year old pupils in the area with exceptional facilities. The series of collegiate courtyards with extensive landscaped grounds create an environment that also lends itself to outdoor learning and activities.

"The Partnership between O'Hare & McGovern and Interserve is proving to be one that delivers value and first class facilities in the education sector in Northern Ireland.

"O'Hare & McGovern will complete the building project within 26 months. Construction work at the 22,000m sq new building is already underway and the school aims to be fully operational by 2008. Interserve will take control of facilities management when the college opens in 2008 over the contracts 25 year operational lifespan."