Building work on the new £8.4 million centralised school for North Uist and Berneray is to get underway within weeks.
Construction of new £8.4 million school set to start
24 March 2015
Hebrides News previously reported Willmott Dixon in collaboration with the Robertson Construction Group won the contract.
The proposed modern education facility will replace the present Lochmaddy, Paible and Carinish primary schools.
The new school is expected to be ready in summer 2016.
Older pupils are being bussed to Lionacleit after the only secondary in North Uist, Paible S2 school, shut in 2013.
The centralised facility will be constructed on the existing Paible School site at Bayhead on the west side of the island.
It will include a nursery, floodlit multi-
To combat the risk of flooding the floor of the school will be heightened above potential water levels. Gabion baskets filled with excavated material from the site will create terraces flanked by railings.
The controversial demolition of the old head teacher’s house which is used a community facility will proceed in May. The secondary wing of the present school will also be knocked down.
Work on the campus on the site of the present Paible School is to start by the end of April.
The Comhairle anticipates getting nearly £2.24 million from the Scottish Government. The rest of the cash has been earmarked from its own funds.
If ever required, around 100 pupils could be accommodated in the school. Baby and infant nursery units are also included.
A car and bus parking and drop-
In addition, environmental garden plus a polytunnel and planting area will be on campus.
The school is expected to be ready in summer 2016. The remaining external works will be completed that winter.
Cllr Catriona Stewart, Chair of Education and Children’s Services at the Comhairle, commented, “I am delighted that the project has reached this key milestone.
“The Comhairle aims to allocate resources in a way which will secure the best possible educational experience for pupils in the Western Isles, and one of our key objectives is the effective deployment of resources to secure continuous improvement in educational achievement and attainment.
“The new school, once completed, will provide modern, fit for purpose facilities designed for the delivery of a 21st Century curriculum.”
Architects are be 3DReid who were the lead designers of the other new Western Isles schools and own the copyright of the design preferred by the council.