Application for new build at St Killian’s College

A public consultation is underway for a new-build at St Killian’s College at Garron Tower, outside Carnlough.

Business case approval has been received from the Department of Finance  with the school expected to benefit from capital investment of approximately £25m.

The proposed new-look 800-pupil school will be built on the existing site at Tower Road.

The new buildings will be located to the rear of the site between two retained listed buildings – Garron Tower and St MacNissi’s College chapel. A former stable block, the St Joseph’s building, will also be retained.

The new buildings will consist of two blocks with a connecting canopy. The eastern block will comprise classrooms, home economics and PE facilities, library and dining hall.

A two-storey link block connected to the eastern block will include a central entrance foyer, multi-purpose hall and staff accommodation.

The western block will house art, science and technology and design departments.

On the ground floor of the original Garron Tower section will be sixth form accommodation and careers department.

The extension to Garron Tower will be demolished and reduced back to the original listed building. It is proposed that stone salvaged from the demolition will be reused.

Commenting on the building proposal, St Killian’s principal Jonny Brady said: “We are all very excited about the new build and the impact it will have on our students’ educational experience and in terms of their own emotional well-being.

“To be part of a school community where there is the potential of a new build is for many of us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it will mean that the college will be a modern, well-designed and fit for purpose school which will have all of the modern facilities the community of the Glens and East Antrim deserve.”