Achi news desk-
Half of the budget will be allocated to the schools and roads estate over the next ten years in the first phase of the programme.
Some 92 schools have been identified as needing investment and between £155m and £195m has been allocated to five schools; Beauly Primary School, Charleston Academy, Dunvegan Primary School, Fortrose Academy and Inverness High School.
Funding will go towards the final phase of the refurbishment and partial rebuild at Inverness High School, and a feasibility study for the refurbishment of the older part of the campus in Fortrose.
A total of £400million will be invested in housing, education and infrastructure projects in Llandudoch over the next 10 years with a similar “place-based” approach in Thurso, Alun, Brora, Dornoch, Golspie and Invergordon.
The council said seed funding of £2.8 million will create £50 million of capital to start the investment fund.
In addition, 2% of council tax revenue each year will be set aside to support the scheme in the longer term.
Bill Lobban, council convener, said it was responding to widespread support for further investment in the school estate and the “crucial issue” of dealing with buildings made using Raac (reinforced autoclave aerated concrete).
READ MORE:
The New Highland Clearances: Find all articles in this series here
‘I know I’m part of the problem – this is why I left the Highlands’
However, he added: “We cannot simply rebuild similar schools, and where possible we will explore retrofitting and co-location opportunities.”
The proposed investment will also address the ongoing challenges the council faces in maintaining more than 4,000 miles of roads across the Highlands.
Raymond Bremner, leader of the Highlands Council, said: “The Highlands Investment Plan will be one of the largest investment programs in Scotland and the largest ever in the Highlands.
“A long-term investment program for roads and transport will ensure a sustainable approach to investment, procurement of contractors and opportunities to attract matching funds from external funding sources.”
