Dalbeattie Learning Campus has taken a major step forward with contracts being signed and formal financial close achieved on the project.
This means that construction work can start on the £26.5m school project in March 2016 with opening scheduled for autumn 2017.
The new campus will be provided by Dumfries and Galloway Council through the Scottish Government’s Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme, managed by the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT). The project will be delivered by Hub SW Dalbeattie DBFM Co Ltd, with construction work being done by Graham Construction.
Council Leader Ronnie Nicholson said “Providing the best start in life for all our children is a priority for our Council and Dalbeattie Learning Campus is key to this. Our new school campus will transform learning and teaching for pupils and staff with a nursery playroom, primary and secondary classrooms, flexible teaching spaces, shared dining and assembly space, a primary hall, specialist teaching areas, sport and fitness facilities, and innovatively designed external spaces for learning and play. I’m delighted that we’ve now signed the contracts. Our Council can now deliver for the young people of Dalbeattie a first class learning environment, fit for the 21st century. ”
Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown said “This is an important milestone for the Dalbeattie community, who will see the work get underway on their new state-of-the-art learning campus in a matter of weeks. In addition to the educational benefits of the new school, it will boost the local economy through construction jobs and apprenticeship opportunities. The Scottish Government is committed to delivering good quality, well designed, sustainable schools through the £1.8billion Scotland’s Schools for the Future Programme, which will deliver 112 new or refurbished schools benefitting 60,000 pupils throughout Scotland over the next four years. The new facilities at Dalbeattie will be a fantastic learning environment and will provide amenities that will be enjoyed by the wider community for generations to come.”
David MacDonald, hub Programme Director at Scottish Futures Trust, said “The hub programme is an innovative approach to develop and deliver best-value community facilities which provides public bodies with a quick, efficient and value for money way of getting their projects into construction and helps secure and sustain local employment. I very much look forward to seeing construction start on the Dalbeattie Learning Campus shortly and to seeing pupils being taught in modern, first-class facilities.”
Michael McBrearty, Chief Executive of hub South West Scotland, said “We are delighted to be working together with Dumfries and Galloway Council and, Scottish Futures Trust and Graham Construction to deliver this first-class community facility which will have a long lasting impression on the area. This milestone has taken months of planning between all collaborators involved in the new development, and with formalities now complete, work can get started to create a state-of-the-art community campus local pupils can be proud of.”
Background info: http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=10345
