Two Ballyclare primary schools have welcomed progress on extension projects following an announcement from Education Minister, Paul Givan.

Fairview Primary School and Ballyclare Primary School are among nine school enhancement projects set to progress to construction stage, with delivery of each project to be spread across a number of years.

Planning permission was originally granted for a new extension to Ballyclare Primary during a meeting of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee in March 2026.

The proposal is for a two-storey extension at the front of the existing school building at Doagh Road and removal of temporary mobile accommodation.

Ballyclare PS principal Mrs Mulligan and vice-principal, Mr Joyce with the Education Minister. Photo: Ballyclare PS

placeholder image — Ballyclare PS principal Mrs Mulligan and vice-principal, Mr Joyce with the Education Minister. Photo: Ballyclare PS

The development plan includes the demolition of a two-storey building on site.

A report presented at the meeting said the site comprises a former two-storey school building which is no longer in use, the main school building and several mobile classroom buildings as well as play and car parking areas.

The plan aims to offer state of the art facilities for P5-7 pupils in the years to come.

Principal, Kim Mulligan said that while there is no timescale currently for building work to commence, the school community are “delighted” to have progressed to this point.

An artist's impression of the new extension at Ballyclare PS. Photo: Ostick + Williams

“We recognise the huge investment the Education Minister has agreed for our town and we appreciate that very much,” the school added.

Meanwhile, planning approval was given in May 2024 for the 10-classroom extension at Fairview Primary.

Members of the council’s Planning Committee were told the school comprises of the main school building, playing fields and nine temporary prefabricated mobile buildings.

A planning officer said a single storey extension will be linked to the main building by a glazed walk way and the mobile units will be removed from the site after completion.

Education Minister Paul Givan pictured with Principal Neil McAllister and pupils Jude and Rose at Fairview Primary School. Photo: Department of Education

The proposed extension would provide 10 additional classrooms with associated stores, shared cloakrooms and toilet, three resource areas with associated stores, one multi-purpose room, a vice-principal’s office, caretaker’s store and ancillary toilets and storage areas.

The existing play provision will be replaced on the lands that currently comprise the existing temporary classrooms.

The extension would ensure all classrooms are under one roof, as well as providing much-needed space for activity and play-based learning, small group support and peripatetic teaching.

In a statement, the school welcomed the Minister’s announcement as a “big step forward for Fairview and a fantastic investment in the future of our pupils.”

Artist's impression of the proposed single storey extension at Fairview PS. Image supplied by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council

Neil McAllister, principal of Fairview said it was hoped that pupils would be in the new wing by September 2028.

Fairview Primary and Ballyclare Primary join seven other NI schools that will move to construction on enhancement projects.

They include Lurgan College; Greenhaw Primary School; Antrim Primary School; Chapel Road Primary School; Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Belfast; St Bride’s Primary School, Belfast; and St Mary’s Primary School, Newtownbutler.

All of the schemes address immediate and pressing need through smaller‑scale refurbishment or extension works.

The Department of Education confirmed that the total capital investment on all of these projects is just over £50m across the coming three-year period.