New Ardnashee campus moves a step closer

The Department of Education can now commit capital expenditure to the newbuild for Ardnashee School and College after an addendum to the business case was approved.

This was the final obstacle to the plans for the state of the art campus, at the former site of Foyle College on the Northland Road.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said: “Ardnashee School and College Business Case originally received approval from Department of Finance on August 10, 2016, and an addendum on the December 18, 2020. This provides approval for the Department of Education to commit capital expenditure to the Ardnashee School and College.”

It is understood that the process for appointing a contractor is imminent and the build is expected to begin later in the year.

A design statement setting out the Education Authority’s vision for the school was submitted to the local Council in September last year.

The new Ardnashee School College will be a single storey building with two identifiable wings providing accommodation for nursery, primary, post primary and specialist subjects.

A MUGA pitch, soft play areas with specialist play equipment and a greenhouse form part of the ambitious plans with the potential to develop a 3G pitch in future.