Over the last two weeks there has been much activity around the Elgin High School building. Numerous pits and bore holes have appeared and then been filled in again. Reports are all good and the construction company are gaining the information they need. Meanwhile there was a very positive meeting between Hubco, Moray Council, the architects and Balfour Beatty. Now that the additional money is secure we will be able to finalise the room schedule during the next few days. This will allow for an initial capacity of 800 pupils. If we can get this completed quickly then planning for “enabling work” on the site could start. Hopefully, we will be able to announce the dates of the construction programme in the not too distant future. It was a very positive planning meeting that brings the reality of a new build for the EHS community one step closer.
Monthly Archives: February 2014
Holes in the ground…
A significant day. Construction workers arrived to start two weeks of ground surveying. They will be drilling a number of holes to investigate the land on which the new build will be constructed. The depth and spread of the bank of peat is obviously a key issue that will feed into the planning. An exciting moment for all when we can at last see work being undertaken on the site. It was also good to be able to welcome a representative of Balfour Beatty to the the Guidance department. Steve joined representatives of the CITB to tell S.3 pupils about the wide range of career possibilities in the construction industry. This is the first in many collaborations that will take place between Balfour Beatty and the school in the coming months and years.
February Update From The Project Team
Elgin High School replacement project update: – February 2014
This is our first newsletter of 2014. And, an exciting development to start the year!
The project team prepared a report to full Council on 5th February to give options regarding the final design and size of the school. The need for this arose because there were some affordability limitations with the existing design (Option A) which were causing concern.
There were four options given, which were:
Option A = Design for 720 pupils with an estimated maximum capacity for 758 pupils, Access from High School Drive only.
Option B = Design for 800 pupils, enhanced core (communal) areas for extra cost of £3M with future extension capability, plus access road from Edgar Road extension.
Option C = Design for 1000 pupils from outset for extra cost of £5.8M, plus access road from Edgar Road extension.
Option D = Defer a decision until any impact of decisions by the council, arising from the Sustainable Education Review is known.
The full report of these options including their advantages, disadvantages and associated risks can be found here:
http://www.moray.gov.uk/minutes/data/MC20140205/Item%206%20 – %20Elgin%20High%20School%20Replacement%20Project.pdf
We are pleased to inform you that the elected members unanimously agreed that Option B was the most appropriate option to choose. The Moray Council have therefore allocated an extra £3M to the project which will provide the most flexible solution for growth (should the need arise), vehicular access from Edgar Road and also make best use of the funding from the Scottish Government.
This means that we can now refine the school design, (which shouldn’t take long) to a high level of detail and progress to planning in the next few months. We will keep you informed along the way.
Site investigation work already started on February 3rd and will continue until the middle of February. The noisiest work which will involve drilling some test bore holes for gas monitoring will take place over the half-term break Feb 13 – 18 to minimise any disruption.
If you have any queries please direct them to ehsproject@moray.gov.uk or telephone 01343 563011
Regards,
The EHS project Team.
Option B adopted
Moray Council has just accepted Option B for the new build, this is:
Option B = Design for 800 pupils, enhanced core (communal) areas for extra cost with future extension capability, plus access road from Edgar Road extension.
This is good news and work can continue. More information to follow.
It is happening…!
Meeting of The Moray Council
As previously mentioned, on Wednesday 5th February The Moray Council is meeting to discuss a report relating to the new build for Elgin High School. The key features of the report before the meeting are:
2. RECOMMENDATION
2.1 It is recommended that The Moray Council:-
(a) allocates an additional sum of £0.8M to the project to cover the construction of an adequate school transport access solution, which includes car parking and shared access to Greenwards Primary School from the Edgar Road extension into the school site;
(b) considers the options set out in this report regarding finalising the design brief regarding the size of the school and
(c) to update the capital plan to reflect any decision.
The options being put to the Council are:
3.22 Summary description of options
Option A = Design for 720 pupils with an estimated maximum capacity for 758 pupils, Access from High School Drive only.
Option B = Design for 800 pupils, enhanced core (communal) areas for extra cost with future extension capability, plus access road from Edgar Road extension.
Option C = Design for 1000 pupils from outset for extra cost plus, access road from Edgar Road extension.
Option D = Defer a decision until any impact of decisions by the council, arising from the Sustainable Education Review is known.
Inevitably there are cost implications for Options B, C and D.
The full paper can be accessed through The Moray Council website (www.moray.gov.uk). We remain confident that work on a new building will be starting sooner rather than later – not least because of the site investigations scheduled for the next few weeks. Information about the Council’s decision will be added here on Wednesday afternoon.
