The £2.1 billion 20-year plan will bring benefits to services and communities across the whole of the Highlands. The money will be used to tackle major capital challenges, including improving transport and roads, schools and community facilities, depots and offices.

Phase one of the programme will see capital funding allocated to enable a new school for Beauly Primary, and extensive refurbishment projects at Fortrose Academy, Charleston Academy, and Inverness High School.

A new school will also be delivered at Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye, in addition to the ongoing development of the new Broadford Primary School.

Approval for the allocation of funding for the first phase of proposed projects for 2024/25 to 2029/30 was agreed at the meeting of The Highland Council on 27 March 2025.

Housing & Property Committee chair, Cllr Glynis Campbell Sinclair, said: “The Highland Investment Plan is helping to tackle major capital challenges to deliver new schools and extension/refurbishment programmes to our ageing Learning Estate. The capital funding allocation agreed for prioritised phase one projects includes Beauly Primary, Charleston Academy, Fortrose Academy and Inverness High School. The HIP sits alongside the ongoing new school build for Tornagrain Primary school and replacement schools at Tain Campus and Nairn Academy supported by Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP). These projects are area specific and part of a wider pan Highland commitment to continue to develop and improve the learning environments for our young people, staff and wider community.”

Education Committee chair and Local Area Committee Chair for Skye and Raasay, Cllr John Finlayson, said: “I’m delighted that the Highland Investment Plan capital funding allocation for phase one has an additional five new school builds or extension/refurbishment projects across Highland and includes the much awaited and needed Dunvegan Primary School.

“Subject to planning and contract award, the new Dunvegan Primary School construction work will look to commence in 2026 with a completion date of May/ June 2027. The school build is part of a masterplan investment that will change the way council services are delivered through a new collaborative operating model and will include new affordable housing and a sports pitch which are being developed in partnership with Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association and Dunvegan Community Trust. Road and enabling works for the different elements have already been completed.

“These exciting developments sit alongside the plans for the new Broadford Primary School and a community sports pitch which are currently being progressed to design and tender stage, which will also bring much improved learning and community facilities to another area of Skye.

“I would like to thank the Skye community, Stakeholders and Council Officers who have worked tirelessly with me and other Members over a number of years to get to this stage, they should be proud of their efforts to date, and they like I will be looking forward to the first phase of the Highland Investment Plan being delivered, with excitement and optimism.”

Thurso Community POD

Thurso has been selected as one of the priority locations for a Community POD (Point of Delivery) as part of a new Thurso High School development and the budget approved by members includes significant capital funding for the project.

Community Points of Delivery will be places where a wide range of council services, including education, can be delivered alongside other partner and community services as part of a future integrated operating model for partnership working.

Council leader, Councillor Raymond Bremner, said: “I am delighted that capital funding has been agreed and plans can move forward. This is great news not just for Thurso but for the whole of Caithness.

“The creation of a community POD within the new Thurso High School project is intended to create a campus that brings together primary and secondary education, early learning and childcare provision and other key community services, located on a single campus.

“Other projects in phase one include improvement to council depots in Caithness and the re-surfacing of the all-weather pitch in Wick.”

Community stakeholder events and public drop-in sessions have taken place over the last couple of months to gather feedback from members of the community.

Options being considered are:

• 3-18 Campus (1 Primary School): Thurso High, a combined primary school, Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) provision and Additional Support Needs (ASN) bases all located on one campus.
• 3-18 Campus (2 Primary Schools): As above but with primary school provision split between the 3-18 campus and one other primary school located elsewhere and with revised catchment areas.
• Separate Campuses (1 Primary School): As above but one combined primary school on a separate site from the High School.
• Separate Campuses (2 Primary Schools): As above but two separate primary schools with revised catchment areas.

Cllr Bremner added: “This ambitious investment plan will bring benefits to services and communities across the whole of the Highlands. The money will be used to tackle major capital challenges we face including improving transport and roads, our schools and community facilities, depots and offices.”

A report following the Thurso placed-based review will be presented to Highland councillors at their meeting in June. The report will identify outcomes of the review, including the preferred model for the community POD, which councillors will consider.

The council’s Learning Estate Strategy (LES) aligns with the local priorities set out within the Highland Investment Plan (HIP) vision for developing its learning estate. The Learning Estate Strategy provides the vision and methodology for creating spaces that will enhance and sustain communities across the Highlands. It will support children and young people through their learning journey from early years through to primary and secondary education, including delivering for Additional Support Needs and enhanced provisions to meet the needs of all learners.

The full report can be accessed here (Item 5).