News / New Lerwick secondary faces delays
SHETLAND Islands Council is facing up to the possibility that construction of the new Anderson High School may be delayed by several months following the takeover of the construction company behind the project.
This week a draft building programme for the £42 million Lerwick secondary school leaked to local media suggested the school may not open until Easter 2017, eight months behind schedule.
However the actual timescale for the biggest construction project in council history will not be known until the main parties involved in the project meet on 3 September.
The council had hoped to reach “financial close” for the development by December this year, when all sides agree a final design for all aspects of the new school. However Hub North Scotland, the consortium behind the contract, have indicated there could be slippage to March 2015 for this stage of the process.
One likely cause of the delay is July’s buy out of lead contractor Miller Construction by Galliford Try, who trade as Morrison Construction in Scotland, one of the main companies involved in building the Shetland gas plant at Sullom Voe.
Councillors are still hoping they can bring the date for financial close back to the end of this year.
However failure to do so may mean that the new Anderson High School at Staney Hill will not open at the start of the new school year in 2016 as had been hoped.
SIC leader Gary Robinson said: “I know that there have been different discussions going on for some time now, but nothing has been finalised and we have not agreed to any other schedule of works at this point.”
A Hub North Scotland spokesman said: “Until the tendering and procurement process has concluded, a firm completion date remains to be scheduled.
“That process is well underway, with the input of contractors on the local supply chain, and Shetland Islands Council has been kept fully informed at every stage of the project.
“Hub North Scotland is committed to working with all of the stakeholders to deliver a first class facility for the community.
“We are keen to ensure parents, pupils and all those with an interest in the project are kept fully informed but at this stage it would be premature to confirm a completion date.”
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