Contractors to progress plans for new Highlands schools

Highland Council has appointed main contractors for planned new schools across its region.

Civil engineering firm Morgan Sindall will work on proposals for Beauly Primary and Inverness' Charleston Academy.

Robertson Group has been appointed to a Dingwall Primary and St Clements School project, and also a primary school proposed for Tornagrain.

Morrison Construction is to work on schools planned for Fortrose and Thurso, while Ogilive Construction is to help progress an Inverness High School project.

The schools would be community hubs and include offices, council depots and other facilities.

They form part of the local authority's £2.1bn, 20-year Highland Investment Plan (HIP).

Highland Council said the appointments would allow the contractors to be involved in the consultation, design and pre-planning stages of the projects.

Councillors backed HIP, and the investment plan's proposals to upgrade its potholed roads and build new schools, in April 2024.

The local authority said it would pay for the plan by borrowing money and using 2% of the money it collects through council tax.

Highland has the longest road network in the UK with more than 4,200 miles (6,759km) of roads, in excess of 1,000 miles (1,609km) of footpaths and more than 2,200 bridges and culverts.

Almost 70 of its more than 200 schools have been rated to be in a poor condition and 74 rated as being of poor suitability.

Last year, public finance watchdog the Accounts Commission said Highland Council should be commended for its ambitious plans but warned it would need to control its borrowing costs.