A new secondary school building is to be built at Charleston Academy in Inverness with Morrison Construction as the preferred main contractor, the Highland Council has announced.
Hub North Scotland is the local authority’s delivery partner on the multi-million pound investment, which will deliver a new secondary school building; flexible offices; a four-court sports hall and two court gymnasium and dance studio; community café; and community hub.
Construction work is due to commence on site in 2028, with school and community facilities expected to open in 2030.
As part of the pre-planning consultation, pupils, parents, staff, and members of the community are invited to view the plans at a drop-in event at Charleston Academy Community Complex on the following dates – December 10, 2pm-7pm and January 21, 2pm-7pm.
The project will be funded through the Highland Investment Plan - a £2.1 billion, 20-year capital investment programme to improve schools, roads, and local infrastructure throughout the region. The plan is funded through a combination of borrowing and a 2% ring-fenced allocation of council tax revenue.
As part of the Highland Investment Plan, all new school buildings will be designed as Community Points of Delivery (PoDs), with the flexibility to accommodate education provision alongside other community facilities, council services and partner organisations, within modern, locally accessible community hubs. Charleston Community Complex will be part of the new building.
Chair of the Highland Council’s education committee, councillor John Finlayson, said, “The Charleston Academy Community PoD is a key Highland Investment Plan project, which will improve the learning environment for pupils, support health and wellbeing, and create opportunities for the wider community. It is great to reach this important milestone, and I look forward to seeing work commence on site next year.”
