Plans to build a new Monifieth High School could be abandoned as “significant” cost increases threaten to derail the project.
Angus Council had previously approved the creation of a new £50 million learning campus to replace the current ageing building.
Funding for a new school was secured in December 2020 and the new campus had been due to open in August 2025.
However, in a report going before councillors next week, officials admit the costs of the project have “risen significantly in comparison to the budget available”.
As a result councillors could opt to abandon plans to build a new campus and instead decide to approve refurbishment works to the existing school.
Why have the costs increased?
A feasibility study submitted to the council in March estimated the cost of building a replacement Monifieth High School would £61m. This is significantly above the project’s identified budget of £50m.
The increased costs relate to a number of factors. These include:
• Increased floor area, including accommodation for Police Scotland (additional funding was to be provided)
• inflationary increases beyond previous forecast
• significant increased material and construction costs as a result of external factors (energy costs; fuel costs; Covid-19; Brexit; material supply; material shortages).
However, the report concluded that it will no longer be possible for the new school to be delivered as originally intended with the funding set aside for it in the council’s budget.
What happens now?
Councillors on the policy and resources committee will now decide between two options, as outlined the report. These are:
- increase the budget for the project and continue to the next stage as previously agreed
- abandon the new build project and pursue a phased programme of
refurbishment works to the existing school
The committee is scheduled to meet next Tuesday where they will decide on the two possible options.
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