Plans for new 'state-of-the-art' Holy Trinity College get go-ahead

The application for a 1600m x2 1300 pupil building and associated works on the existing Chapel Street site as well as a 3G synthetic pitch and multi use games has been warmly welcomed.

In a Facebook post, Holy Trinity College expressed their “delight”. The post reads: “The news couldn’t have arrived at a better time given the current pandemic and it will be extremely reassuring to our pupils, staff, parents and our wider community.

“As the biggest and most far reaching project in the College’s history, the new school upon completion, will provide pupils with ‘state of the art’ facilities and resources, thereby continuing to provide a first class, quality education for our children and for future generations, within a modern, inspiring and innovative bespoke learning environment.”

Sinn Féin Mid Ulster MLA, Michelle O’Neill said the approval was great news for the school, for the local community and for Cookstown as a whole.

She said: “It will provide for a 1300 pupil school located on the existing grounds and will ensure that a state of the art school will provide first class education in first class facilities for all the students.

“The current site is marked by old buildings and a host of mobiles that are not serving the best interests of the pupils.”

“I want to pay tribute to the all the staff, the pupils and wider school community that have worked long and hard to bring this project to this stage. There is much more work to do but I know that this news will provide a great boost to everyone.”

Local SDLP councillor Kerri Hughes welcomed the decision. She said: “Pupils and staff at Holy Trinity College can now look forward to the start of work on their new school in the coming months.

“As a local school which contributes so much to our community, I am delighted that these new facilities will be made available in the near future.

“The SDLP has made many representations regarding this new-build project. We will continue to work with the school and the department to ensure its completion as soon as possible.”

Sinn Féin Mid Ulster Council Chairperson Councillor Cathal Mallaghan said he was delighted Holy Trinity College received an approval last night at Planning Committee.

He said: "The college has embarked upon a journey to build a new purpose built facility which will be one of the best non selective secondary school projects in the north.

"I wish the schools management team and board of governors every success in the time ahead as the new build is procured and funding drawn down.

"This is a brilliant construction project for Cookstown and will enhance the educational outcomes for Children right across Mid Ulster for the next generation."

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