Construction has officially begun on a new build at Crawfordsburn Primary School in County Down, with Bell Contracts Ltd appointed as the main contractor for the project.

The £7.3 million investment by the Department of Education will deliver a modern, extended school on the existing site.

The development will include eight contemporary classrooms, state-of-the-art facilities, expanded outdoor learning spaces, and increased parking and drop-off capacity. The project is scheduled for completion in March 2027.

Isherwood & Ellis are serving as the Integrated Consultant Team, overseeing the design and planning process alongside the construction works.

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Northern Ireland Education Minister Paul Givan cut the first sod on the major capital construction project. He said: "This is an important day for the school community, marking the beginning of an exciting chapter as construction gets underway.

"There has been considerable work to get to this stage. I commend the school and stakeholders who have shown dedication, commitment and perseverance to bring the project from initial design, through planning and into construction. It is a journey that displays the very best of our school communities. I wish the pupils, staff, governors and parents of Crawfordsburn Primary School every success as this exciting new chapter unfolds and the vision for the school becomes a reality."

Principal of Crawfordsburn Primary School, Adam Ferguson, added: "A great deal of work has gone into getting to this stage of the project. I would like to pay tribute to the Department of Education, the whole project team, our Board of Governors and previous principals, who have all had a role to play over the last number of years."