New high school in Peebles 'will be something whole community can be proud of'
Last updated 5th Sep 2023
It's claimed the new high school in Peebles will be "something the whole community can be proud of".
Designs have been partly rejigged at the request of parents to include a larger and fully enclosed assembly hall, and an increase in the number of enclosed teaching spaces.
It follows concerns over the lack of performance space and concerns the open plan layout could have on pupils education.
And Scottish Borders Council has confirmed work's set to start on the £61 million pound project this autumn, with the new campus due to be operational by December 2025.
Enabling works have been ongoing at the school site since late last year and are nearing completion.
The extension to the existing sports block including new changing rooms and gymnasium, which were lost to the 2019 fire, was completed in time for the start of the new academic year and is now being used by the school students.
Other elements of the initial works including the installation of a 3G pitch and running track are nearing completion and are scheduled to be finished by mid-September.
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Councillor Simon Mountford, the local authority's Executive Member for Estate Management and Planning, said: “The reality of a new school for Peebles following the devastating fire of 2019 feels closer than ever and I’m sure members of the school community and residents of the wider area will be as delighted as I am to know that construction of the main building will begin this year.
“It’s absolutely imperative that we deliver this school on time and that students and local residents alike can benefit from this state-of-the-art multi-functional facility.
“This represents a major strategic investment for the whole Tweeddale area and will undoubtedly benefit the wider community for decades to come by transforming the lives and opportunities available to those who live locally.”
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Councillors agreed unanimously at a meeting of Council last Thursday to proceed with the construction phase of the project - despite concerns over increased costs, fuelled by a "volatile construction market" - with a date for breaking ground ceremony to be confirmed at a later date.
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Scott Brown, Projects Director for Hub South East - the council's development partner - said: “I’d like to congratulate all parties involved in the successful handover of the sports block extension, which was ready for pupils to use on their recent return to school.
“We’re excited to be progressing to the next stage in this development and look forward to completing the remaining enabling works and starting main works on site. This project will deliver a new inspiring learning space for pupils and will be an asset for the wider local community, further cementing the strong partnership between Hub South East and our partners in Scottish Borders Council.”
Malcolm Keillor, Construction Director at BAM, added: “We’re looking forward to starting the next phase of this exciting project, to create a sustainable, modern new school for Peebles which will inspire students and provide a fantastic facility for the wider community."
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