Topic Contracts
Date 15 Jul 2021
Morrison Construction’s track record in the education sector has been recognised once again through its appointment by Hub South East Scotland to build Wallyford’s new learning campus in a £41m contract on behalf of East Lothian Council.
Additional secondary school facilities are needed to accommodate a growing school roll in the area due to ongoing and planned housing development. The new facilities are part of Phase 1 of the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP).
Alongside modern teaching and social spaces, the new facilities will include specialist provision for young people with severe and complex needs, a dedicated Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM) centre, and a Tots and Teens area.
Community spaces and a day centre for older people, as well as new sports facilities are also planned. The building has been designed to complement the neighbouring primary school with extensive glass, access to natural light and brick-clad facades.
Councillor Fiona Dugdale, Cabinet Spokesperson for Education and Children’s Services for East Lothian Council, said: “This is a significant milestone signalling that construction of the new school can proceed. The facilities will provide additional secondary school capacity for the area and supports our vision for dynamic and thriving local communities, in one of Scotland’s fastest growing local authority areas.
“It is vital that we ensure high-quality local infrastructure is provided to meet the needs of local people and the new building will provide a fantastic, modern learning environment.
Roddy Clark, Operations Director for Hub South East, said: “After successfully delivering the award winning Wallyford Primary School, we are delighted to be working in partnership with East Lothian Council on a new secondary school for the area.
“It’s exciting to see the range of people? who will benefit from this new, modern campus. As well as providing state-of-the-art learning spaces for young people, it will be a real collaborative asset for the area, allowing the development of community and further education partnerships. We’re looking forward to making these plans a reality.”
Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, commented: “East Lothian Council’s priority project for investment is one of the first phase of projects to benefit from the Scottish Government’s £2bn Learning Estate Investment Programme.
“This school will be at the heart of the Wallyford community benefiting pupils being educated in state-of-the-art facilities. Teachers also value being able to work in modern facilities that are fit for purpose.
Eddie Robertson, Managing Director of Morrison Construction Building Central, said: “We are delighted to have reached financial close on the new Wallyford Learning Campus, a fantastic project for our partners Hub South East and East Lothian Council and the first to reach site through the Scottish Government’s Learning Estates Investment Programme.
“The project also represents a huge commitment to the young people of Wallyford, through the provision of digitally-enhanced areas for learning such as the new STEAM plaza, establishing partnerships with employability and further education providers to provide pathways into work, and the promotion of virtual learning and inclusivity for all. We look forward to providing the community with access to state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor facilities for a wide-range of activities and learning spaces.”
Planning permission for the new build was unanimously approved last month and preparatory works have already begun on site, with main works to begin in August 2021 and the construction works programmed for completion in June 2023.