Environment Minister Edwin Poots MLA, visited Ballantine Garden Village in Lisburn to recognise a novel achievement by W.J. LAW, one of the leading House builders in Northern Ireland. W.J. LAW had been notified of winning the short-listing in 3 separate awards, for 2 different sites, and by chance heard news of all 3 awards on the same day.

Michael Poole has been short listed for the NHBC Pride in the Job Award for Ballantine Garden Village in Lisburn. He won the best site manager in Northern Ireland in 2008 for this site, and went to London to represent the province. He hopes to do the same this year, and possibly go one better and win the UK wide award this time. Michael also finds time to serve as a part time member of the Fire Service in his home town of Ballynahinch – truly an ‘all action hero’.

The other site to receive word of quality recognition is in North Down: The site at Avonmore Court near Bangor, has been short listed in the (Construction Employers Federation) CEF Specify Awards. One of only 3 short-listed in the “Partnering Best Practice” category, the site is further recognised by also being short-listed within the Green Field Category.

WJ LAW were recognised last year by winning the overall Specify NI award last year for Ballantine Garden Village. Accordingly Avonmore Court and Site Manager Stephen Dillon from Dromore are under pressure to win again at this different site!

WJ Law got word of winning all 3 nominations on the same day, and will await the results in November for the overall Northern Ireland award.

With the housing Market approaching recovery, it is good of the Minister to recognise success. Minister Poots took the time to review many parts of the site which are generally unseen; again proving that the devil is in the detail, and this is what has set these two developments apart from the rest.