The school is being built to the north of Countesswells, overlooking the Cults Burn Park and adjacent to a neighbourhood centre, by community infrastructure developer hub North Scotland. Morrison Construction has been appointed as main contractor and the architects are Halliday Fraser Munro.

Construction of the new school will start with groundworks and preparation for the foundations.

The new school will have room for over 400 pupils as well as around 60 nursery children. It will include space for early years’ education, an all-weather pitch, and two separate playgrounds as well as an outdoor classroom, which will offer an innovative approach to teaching and learning.

The school is set to be completed in 2023.

Ewen Fowlie, the project director for hub North Scotland, said excellent collaboration by all the partners involved in the school development had brought them to this key stage.

He added: “We are looking forward to beginning construction and delivering a fantastic new school which will play a key role in the life of the Countesswells community for generations to come.”

The financial close for the project was completed remotely and electronically instead of the normal face to face signing, because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Euan Pirie, a partner in law firm Harper Macleod’s Construction and Engineering contracts negotiation team, said: “We are delighted to have helped our clients reach financial close on this important project.

“As the first hub North Scotland financial close since the pandemic struck, and the first to be finalised using the DocuSign electronic signatures as part of new ways of working, it shows how collaboration can deliver great results no matter the landscape we are working in. I’m sure the new school will prove to be a cornerstone of this new community that is being created in the area.”

Countesswells Development Limited (CDL) said it will ensure that, where possible, disruption to the local community is minimised. 

Alex Goodfellow, director at CDL, said: “Breaking the ground of our much-anticipated school is another significant milestone for our community, and a further demonstration of the commitment to deliver a highly attractive community to live, work, play and learn.” 

Along with Countesswells Primary School, hub North Scotland is also developing a new primary school and community hub in Torry on behalf of Aberdeen City Council.

Councillor M.Tauqeer Malik, convener of Aberdeen City Council’s Education Operational Committee, said: “The new building will ensure that children living in Countesswells can attend school with peers, so promoting social inclusion.

“We will be able to meet the future growing capacity of this school zone for years to come, delivering the Curriculum for Excellence in a state-of-the-art establishment that serves all residents and promotes sustainable living in addition to lifelong learning.”

Councillor Marie Boulton, convener of the Capital Programme Committee, said: “It’s great to be moving into the construction phase for the primary school.

“Countesswells Primary is one of a number of schools as well as community hubs the council is delivering across the city. We are committed to providing much-needed homes, including affordable units, as well as supporting infrastructure.

“We’re certain the school will be enjoyed by young learners and the wider Countesswells community for many years to come.”