Received on 23 October, the report summarised the RIBA Stage 3 Report for the new Primary School and Early Years and Family Centre, as well as the developed proposals, programme, procurement and delivery strategy, cost plan and affordability indications. 

On 17 September, at the Special Council meeting, the council agreed to progress plans for the standalone new build Primary School, Early Years and Family Centre on Coldingham Road as the preferred delivery choice, accepting that this must be carried out within current budgets.

Developing that option into a coordinated design capable of progressing to planning, technical design and procurement has been the area of focus for the stage 3 work.

Following the approval on 5 November, the project progressed to RIBA Stage 4. 

Planning and building warrant applications; the next stage of contractor procurement; continuing design development; stakeholder engagement; cost management and risk reduction; and reporting any material alteration in scope, programme, affordability, or delivery risk through the council’s governance arrangements would be included. 

A revised project budget of £23.3 million excluding VAT, which includes demolition works, risk, inflation, fees, and client direct costs, was given the green light by the council.

The council also agreed to reprioritise and ramp up capital provision in the relevant financial years to meet the additional £8.8m capital requirement. 

It was noted that this reprioritisation will decrease the council’s capacity to start other new capital investment.

The new primary school is designed to have a capacity for up to 420 pupils and would provide 12 classrooms arranged across four learning zones, with the total internal floor area of the overall project standing at 2,490 square metres, the council’s report stated.

It is also mentioned in the report that the new school would house a dining space that can serve the purpose of assembly use and that the project has been targeted for completion in September 2029.

Councillor Julie Pirone, the council’s executive member for education, youth development and lifelong learning, said: “Today marks an important step forward in the Eyemouth Primary School and Early Years and Family Centre project. 

“A significant amount of work has been undertaken by officers, and the report presented today highlights the progress that has been made and the next steps that are required to deliver this project for the children of Eyemouth.”