WORK is set to get underway on the build of a £47.2 million secondary learning facility in East Lothian.
hub South East Scotland is to deliver the new build, with Morrison Construction as the main contractor and JM Architects leading the design.
Planning permission for the new learning campus in Wallyford was unanimously approved last month, with preparatory works having already commenced on site – with the main works set to begin in August 2021 for a summer 2023 completion.
It comes following a growing school roll and ongoing planned housing development in the area. The facility will feature modern teaching and social spaces – including 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. East Lothian Council said 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 at East Lothian Council, said, “This is a significant milestone signalling that construction can proceed. The facility 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.
“I am confident that children and young people will reap the benefits of the new facilities which will be built at Wallyford and I look forward to seeing the site progress in the months ahead.”
Roddy Clark, hub South East’s operations director, added,, “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 services which 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.”
Eddie Robertson, MD of Morrison Construction Building Central, commented, “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.”
