SUBSTANTIAL ENGINEERING WORKS will be required if plans for the creation of a new Lossiemouth High School can be built as planned.
That is the warning being given to councillors this week in a report on progress of the Lossiemouth Learning Centre, which is to include a new school for 800 pupils.
Also included in the project is a replacement swimming pool, community facilities and library. At a meeting in May, Moray Council were told that the Scottish Government would provide two-thirds of the project costs with the local authority providing the remainder.
The project is set for completion of the new centre by March 2020 – however, councillors will be told that issues with the ground on which the new school is planned has put the project behind schedule.
Report author Shone Leese notes: “This project is currently behind programme due to the results of the ground conditions. This has shown that the whole area is poor for development and requires substantial engineering works.
“As a consequence, the proposed cost of the project is above the affordability cap. Hub North Scotland, in conjunction with Balfour Beatty, have been tasked by the Council to review possible options to identify what alternative approaches could be undertaken to reduce the costs.
“Regular progress reports are provided to Corporate Management Team (CMT) via the Programme Management Office (PMO).”
Ms Leese adds that the project is still at an early stage but outlines the ground issues as a major risk.