Construction work starts on two new Edinburgh schools

Construction work has got underway on two schools which will serve up to 1,000 pupils across Edinburgh.

Morgan Sindall Construction has started work on the primary and early years schools in Morningside and Leith under a £26 million contract with the City of Edinburgh Council.

The package of work was tendered as part of the council’s £223m contractor works framework, which Morgan Sindall Construction has held a place on since it was launched in 2016.

Plans for the site on Canaan Lane, Morningside involve the demolition of the former Oaklands Care Home. In its place, a new two-storey building will house a total of 12 classrooms, two of which will be nursery playrooms. In total, the 3,365 square metre development will have capacity for 462 primary pupils and 80 early years spaces.

The new primary school being built on Canaan Lane in Morningside will house a total of 12 classrooms, two of which will be nursery playrooms.

In keeping with the council’s commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030, the building features technology including air source heat pumps.

The Leith project will provide a new home for Victoria Primary, the city’s oldest school, which has been in operation since 1844.

Staff and pupils will relocate from the existing site on Newhaven Main Street to the new school on Windrush Drive once the project is complete.

The school will have the capacity for 462 primary and 80 early years pupils. There will be 14 classrooms split across a two-storey 4,075 square metre building, with an additional single-storey nursery wing built on the east side. Work on both schools is scheduled to complete next year.

The new Victoria Primary school in Leith will have capacity for 462 primary and 80 early years pupils in 14 classrooms.

Stuart Parker, Morgan Sindall Construction’s managing director in Scotland, said: “With population growth in Edinburgh showing no signs of slowing down, it’s important for planning departments and house builders to work collaboratively to guarantee sufficient capacity for children’s education.

“They’re both great examples of building modern learning environments in urban areas; maximising the existing space to provide sustainable, future-proof and expandable schools which are easily accessible to local residents.”

Councillor Ian Perry, education convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Both these projects are part of our ambitious new school building programme to provide the very best learning environment for our young people with more than £500m investment planned over the next 10 years.”

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