Two new schools and five school extensions in West Lothian are planned using contributions from housing developers that are expected to exceed £60 million.
The Council’s Executive approved plans to progress a £1 million extension for Calderwood Primary in East Calder using developer contributions due to be completed in 2024.
They also noted plans to use developer funding to fund two new schools, at Bangour and the Hawkhill area of Winchburgh.
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Building extensions are also proposed for Winchburgh Primary, St Paul’s Primary in East Calder, Pumpherston and Uphall Community Primary and West Calder High School.
Developers looking to build homes in West Lothian are legally obliged to provide a contribution towards schools and other community resources as part of their planning conditions, through what is known as a Section 75 agreement.
Large-scale housing development is currently taking place in a number of areas in the county including Winchburgh, Calderwood in East Calder and Bangour.
To ensure that there are enough school places for the children who will live in these planned homes, developers are required to pay for the new schools and extensions required to accommodate them.
After the Executive meeting this week Andrew McGuire, the Executive councillor for education, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I’m delighted that these developer-funded contributions will help ensure that West Lothian continues to have one of the best school estates in the country.
“A high-quality learning environment can help improve performance, as we aim to ensure all our children and young people achieve their full potential. Attainment has improved in West Lothian every year for the last decade, and the school environment is a factor in this.
“The extension for Calderwood was already planned, but is now required due to rising school roles. The two new schools and further four extensions will be delivered over the next few years to ensure we have school capacity as West Lothian continues to grow.”
West Lothian Council has appointed Hub South East to deliver the Calderwood extension, with Morrison Construction as the main contractor. This is the same team who delivered the current school building.
Hub South East is the first of five Scottish Hubs which were established in 2010 to provide development services throughout the City of Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders.
It is a joint venture development partnership, owned jointly between local authorities, the NHS, Scottish Government and a private sector consortium.
It is a development partner – not a contractor - with the resources to assist with development needs, including asset planning, finance, design, project and cost management, construction and facilities management.
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