St Comgalls

Mixed Use development
Including Office, Education, Food & Beverage use

Divis Street, BT12 4AQ

About St Comgalls

St Comgalls is a two storey Listed Grade B1 (ref. HB/26/33/004) building that is located on Divis Street. The site was occupied by the old Belfast Model School from 1855 until it was destroyed by fire in 1922. The Catholic Church subsequently took over the site in 1932 and it became St Comgall's Primary School (originally known as St Comgall's Public Elementary School), which opened in December 1933. St Comgalls was designed by R.S. Wilshere. The buildings are characterised by their Neo-Georgian facades in red clay brickwork and grey 'cast stone' with large multi-paned windows and pitched slated roofs. St Comgalls Primary School closed in the 1999. For a period of time after the closure of the school, the Training and Employment Agency and WorkNet had offices in the building to help people into employment. The offices closed down and eventually the site became derelict. 

The Falls Community Council purchased the building in 2003 with the aid of Atlantic Philanthropies and had been lobbying since then to secure the money to rebuild it. Eventually, they secured £7 million from the Executive Office through the Social Investment Fund and through Belfast City Council's Belfast Investment Fund.

In July 2018, Falls Community Council submitted a planning application (LA04/2018/1886/F) proposing refurbishment and improvements to the existing main school building, two adjacent pavilions and site to support a range of community-based heritage, culture, education, leisure, seminar and exhibition uses (as well as office, café, toilet accommodation). This application was approved in June 2019.

In March 2020, construction commenced on site.

In July 2022, the Andersonstown News held the first event in the building with their annual Best of the West Awards celebration.

In June 2023, Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Áine Groogan welcomed US Envoy to Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy III to officially open the St Comgall’s community facility in west Belfast.

Project Information

Start Date

March 2020

Completion Date

August 2022

Cost

£7,000,000.00

Floors

2

Planning References

Project Team

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