The new building has capacity for 96 children and provides after-school care for the school as a whole.

Vice convener of the council and local Ward 19 Member, Cllr Ken Gowans, said: “This facility will be a great asset for the community. It has taken a sustained effort to get to this point and I would like to thank all those who have contributed, especially the parents in Milton of Leys.”

The purpose-built facility comprises two large nursery rooms; a kitchen and servery; a flexible space for dining and other activities; reception foyer and offices; toilets, storage, and other ancillary accommodation.

Externally, there is a secure play area and improvements made to road access and parking. The existing nursery rooms in the main building have been converted to 2 primary classrooms to provide additional capacity for the school in the coming years.

Housing and property chair, Cllr Glynis Sinclair, said: “The new ELC building at Milton of Leys Primary School is an excellent space which is flexible to meet the daily needs of the children. I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this project; it is a vital space which will be utilised by the community as it continues to grow.”

The construction works were project managed by the Highland Council’s Property Team. The main contractor was Morrison Construction, assisted by a design team consisting of Colin Armstrong Associates, HGA (UK) Ltd and Pick Everard.

Education chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: “I am delighted that we have another location which has a brand-new building for ELC provision. This purpose-built facility will enable us to deliver on providing a quality learning environment for our nursery children and allows us to meet the requirements of the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) expansion programme.”

The new nursery was handed over in time for the new summer term.

Pre-Application Consultation Event on proposed redevelopment of Nairn Academy

An in-person public consultation event, with presentations at 4:30pm and 6pm, has been arranged at Nairn Academy, Duncan Drive, Nairn IV12 4RD on 6 September 2022.

There will be an opportunity to review project information boards and ask any questions. School staff, Council officials, members of the project Design Team and Design and Build contractor Balfour Beatty will be in attendance. All members of the community are welcome. There will be an opportunity to record comments on the day as well as online after the event.

Two virtual online public events have also been arranged for 8 September 2022 at 2pm and 7pm on MS Teams. A presentation will be shown online and there will be an opportunity to ask questions. The online events are open to all members of the community. Anyone wishing to join can request a link to the meetings from CLestates@highland.gov.uk

Details of the proposed redevelopment will be uploaded to:

https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/878/schools/845/school_estate_management/7

A replacement school building for Nairn Academy was included in Phase 2 of the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme announced in December 2020, and funding for the project is included in the reprofiled capital programme approved by Council in January 2021. The project is currently at Design Stage and comments on the proposal would be welcomed by the Council.

No application has been submitted to the Highland Council in relation to this proposal. Any comments made to the prospective applicant at this time are not representations to the council and would not be considered as part of any future application. If the prospective applicant subsequently submits a formal application for planning permission, there will be an opportunity to make representations on that application to the Council.

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