| Date -01 Dec 2009 | Return to previous page |
Designs for two new schools in Moray have been revealed as the Moray Council announced details of the successful bidder for the projects.
Elgin Academy and Keith Primary will be replaced with two state-of-the-art buildings erected on the existing site as part of a pounds 40million Public Private Partnership funded scheme.
The successful bidders for the long-awaited schools are the INPP Consortium, comprising the Aberdeen-based building company, Stewart Milne, Operon Ltd from Leeds who will design the mechanical and electrical services, and investment company International Public Partnerships.
Project board chairman Councillor Jeff Hamilton welcomed the appointment.
“This is a major step towards the replacement of these schools, which will provide state of the art facilities for staff and pupils, new facilities for the local communities, and will also boost the local economy by creating construction jobs,” he said.
The successful bidders will now have to secure planning consent before the final contract is signed in April.
The replacement for Elgin Academy will accommodate 1050 pupils and will comprise of classrooms, a games hall, gym, fitness suite and dance studio for the modern curriculum. There will be facilities for the full range of pupil support, a multi-agency base for referred pupils similar to the successful Hut 9 project in Forres, and a community room which can be accessed by parents and local groups in and out of school hours.
External facilities will include a full size floodlit all-weather pitch, two grass pitches built to Sportscotland standard, and a secure terraced courtyard. Care has been taken to ensure that pupils, staff and visitors can arrive at the school safely on foot, by bicycle, car or bus.
Keith Primary School will have a new building within which all the pupils who currently attend the nursery, junior and senior primary schools will be accommodated. The accommodation has been designed to allow flexibility in use of the spaces, and comprises classrooms for nursery through to P7, pupil support, an assembly and games hall, a kitchen and dining hall, and space for community use.
External facilities include safe play provisions for children at all stages, outdoor ‘classrooms’ where lessons can be held as an alternative to being inside all the time, and a fenced, all-weather multi-use games area. Also being provided as part of the school development is a full-size floodlit all-weather pitch, and two grass pitches, again to Sportscotland standards.These will be for the benefit of Keith Grammar School and the local community. Considerable effort has been given to addressing the current congestion that arises at morning and afternoon peaks. The architects have designed the school to ensure that there are safe means of access for pupils - including the pupils attending Keith Grammar School - and staff, with adequate off-street parking.
The schools will be innovative, environmentally friendly and sustainable and will be fully accessible by those with mobility needs.
Public meetings will be held over the next few weeks to display and discuss the designs for the schools and all are invited to attend.
The meeting for Keith Primary will be held in the hall at Keith Primary School on Monday 7 December commencing at 6pm until 7:30pm. The meeting for Elgin Academy will be held in the hall at Elgin Academy on Tuesday 8 December commencing at 6pm until 7:30pm. The meetings will be attended by the architects and the contractor who will build the schools, and by Moray Council officers. There will be separate meetings arranged during the school day for staff and pupils of the schools.
The project is being funded through a public private partnership using a non-profit distributing model, and is supported by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Futures Trust.
The Consortium is made up of International Public Partnerships, an international investor in PPP infrastructure projects which is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is managed and advised by Amber Infrastructure Limited; Stewart Milne Group from Aberdeen, who will design and build the schools; and Operon from Leeds, who will design the mechanical and electrical services and design and install the furniture and equipment, and will also be responsible for the facilities management and maintenance for the completed schools for the 30 year contract period. The design team, led by Richard Blair, comprises Aedas Architects from Glasgow, supported by WA Fairhurst (civil and structural engineers); Operon (M&E design consultancy) and Alex Napier as Educational Adviser.
The Council has been assisted by Dundas & Wilson CS LLP (Legal Advisers); Caledonian Economics Ltd (Financial Advisers); Marsh (Insurance Advisers) and Faithful+Gould (Technical Advisers and Lead Advisers)