THE new Dumfries High School development is progressing so quickly that council chiefs want to “accelerate” construction work with another cash boost of millions.
The £53.2m project is currently six weeks ahead of schedule, on budget, and the plan is to build on that momentum in case any unexpected winter weather causes interruptions.
The three-phase development will see a new modern school building built, pupils being decanted into it, and then the current secondary school being demolished.
Phase one has successfully been completed, which resulted in a replacement 3G pitch being handed over to the school last month.
The second phase is the main school build and phase three will be the demolition of the old school and landscaping works.
Mo Agoun, the council’s property, estates and programmes manager, has produced an update report for next week’s education committee.
He wrote: “Phases one and two are running concurrently, with phase one having been completed and handed over to the council and the school for use on January 17, 2025.
“The main school remains on course for completion in April 2026.
“Phase three will follow, once pupils and staff have decanted into the new school and will be completed by March 2027.
“The completion of phase one is a significant milestone in the project and allows the school and the Greystone Foundation to utilise external playing facilities, as the works to the main school progresses through the remainder of the phases.”
He continued: “The Dumfries High School Project is currently six weeks ahead of schedule and it is anticipated that the project will accelerate by £2.8m.
“However, there is still risk that winter weather could slow progress.”
Councillors are now being asked to approve fast-tracking spending £2.8m to ensure the school development project can continue at a steady rate.
Works commenced on site in April last year, led by the main contractor Morgan Sindall.
The new building will accommodate more than 900 pupils. In addition to leading PE and STEM facilities, there will also be science and wellbeing gardens.
The plans are also for the school site to include new sports accommodation to replace the existing David Keswick Athletics Centre.
