Balmuildy, Milngavie and Bearsden Primary School Projects

The projects to replace Balmuildy Primary School and the refurbishment of Bearsden and Milngavie Primary schools progressed to the pre-construction phase with a full costing exercise and revised tendered costs completed and reported to Council on Wednesday 21 August.

Both UK inflation and global construction industry costs have increased substantially in recent years and the updated cost for the projects, including costs of borrowing, have now greatly exceeded the initial estimates. This combined with the ongoing challenging financial situation that local government is facing, means it is not affordable at this time to progress to the construction phase. The projects will now be paused - as decided at Council - until such times as either the Council’s revenue budget can support the high level of additional borrowing, or the capital settlement is increased to a level that would support the inclusion of the projects within our capital programme.

At the Council meeting on Thursday 26 September 2024, works to progress with an agreed list of cost-effective remedial works for Bearsden Primary School were approved. This includes some elements of the full refurbishment project. The approved works include the phased replacement of all windows within the school building, replacement of external doors, essential stonework repair or replacement around the window areas, the replacement of the boiler system within the school and the removal of trees / vegetation around the site perimeter where this is deemed necessary.

The set-up works began on Saturday 23 November 2024 and will be completed by Friday 20 December 2024. The remedial works will then start on Monday 6 January 2025 with an anticipated end date of Monday 2 June 2025.

Following the Council decision on 19 December 2024, Officers will now work on finalising the costs, programme and logistics for option A2. This option was for a full school decant with the aim of works commencing in Summer 2025. The Senior School will decant to Torrance Primary School and the Infant School will decant to St Nicholas’ Primary School.

The scope of the works for the Upper and Lower Building is as follows:

• Full roof replacement including valleys, gutters and all sky lights
• Full window replacement
• Repair/reinstatement of stonework where poor condition is a contributing factor in water ingress to the buildings.

During the pre-construction period there will be a number of discussions with staff, pupils and parents of Milngavie, Torrance and St Nicholas’ Primary Schools to discuss the decant logistics.

The project will be delivered as an advanced package of works from those longer-term refurbishment proposals for the Milngavie Primary School and as such, will be delivered through the Scape Scotland Framework and via main contractor McLaughlin and Harvey Ltd.

Officers propose that a budget of £8m be allocated within the capital programme to deliver the project in full, to include for all remaining design development, professional fees, and construction costs.

On completion of the pre-construction phase, should the projected cost exceed the allocated budget of £8m, a final report will be brought to Council seeking approval for the actual tendered construction cost.

Further to the Council decision on 21 August 2024 to pause the Balmuildy Primary School new build project, the below works have been identified within the school. These will be progressed to improve the condition of the existing school until such times the new build project can be reinstated to the Capital Programme.

Works will include the following:

• Repairs to windows and doors where required
• Attending to existing timber cladding and tiles at various locations including at the infant school building projections
• Installation of ventilation in classrooms
• Decoration and painting throughout
• Replacement flooring in circulation areas and gym hall
• Installation of a new suspended ceiling in the gym hall
• Replacement blinds throughout.

Progress updates on the implementation of these measures will be provided to future committees, education staff and to the Parent Council.