Woodvale Construction has completed construction of a new 21-classroom primary school, nursery school, and ‘nurture unit’ at Elmgrove Primary School in Belfast.

A key feature of the development is pedestrian access to the Connswater Community Greenway, providing a safe and accessible route for children and parents to walk to and from school.

Elmgrove Primary School, located in East Belfast, has a rich history.

Originally opened as Elmgrove Elementary School on 9 January 1933, the school has long served the local community.

But, in November 2024, the original building in Beersbridge Road closed, and the new Elmgrove campus at the former Avoniel site was completed.

The development involved extensive refurbishment and alterations to the existing Grade A-listed building, along with the construction of three new wings at the rear.

The retention of the listed building ensures the new school preserves an important historical architectural element.

The completed facility, designed by Todd Architects, now accommodates approximately 620 primary pupils and 52 nursery children.

The first phase of the development involved the creation of a temporary education village and SMA accommodation on the Beersbridge Road site, with associated services.

The second phase saw the demolition of existing buildings, refurbishment of the Grade A-listed building, and construction of new school extensions.

This phase created a 21-classroom primary school, a detached nursery unit, and brought together both Avoniel and Elmgrove Primary schools.

The final phase saw the decommissioning of the temporary accommodation at the Beersbridge Road site.

Key features of the new school include:

• 21 classrooms together with offices and storerooms
• School meals accommodation
• A playground and soft-surface play area
• A multi-purpose hall
• An immersion room
• Landscaping and car parking facilities
• Natural gas-fired condensing boilers
• BMS controls

The development achieved a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ sustainability rating and provided significant local employment, delivering 573 employment weeks to apprentices, placement students, and unemployed individuals from the local community.