Investing in service delivery in Thurso
We are investing £100 million to create a new community hub in Thurso. This will be funded through the Highland Investment Plan (HIP) – a £2.1 billion, 20-year capital investment programme to improve schools, roads and local infrastructure.
A key element of the HIP is the creation of community hubs, known as Points of Delivery (PoDs), supporting a move towards a single public estate incorporating schools, council services and partners into modern, integrated community-based facilities.
The investment represents one of the most significant public infrastructure investments we have made in the Highlands in over a decade.
What we are proposing
Ageing school buildings in Thurso need to be replaced. This gives us the chance to create an education-focused PoD that also includes other public services. The PoD will be on the current Thurso High School site. This area offers space for new education, sports and leisure facilities, and stronger links with the neighbouring UHI North, West and Hebrides campus. We are using a place-based approach, working with the community and partners to make sure plans meet local needs.
The Community PoD will bring many benefits to Thurso, including:
- modern learning spaces that meet today’s needs
- easier transition between nursery, primary and secondary school
- Safer walking routes with better separation from traffic
- improved cycle and walking routes.
- lower maintenance and utility costs
We will plan schools and other facilities carefully to meet local needs. Education plans include:
- support for pupils with additional needs
- early learning and childcare
- Gaelic Medium Education
- school locations and management
Other aligned projects being considered:
- a learning campus linked to UHI and local schools
- housing for key workers
- a new Caithness depot PoD
- reviews of office and leisure facilities
- shared spaces for partners
View documents relating to the proposed Thurso Community PoD
Latest update
A pre-design consultation was held in December 2025 and January 2026 to seek local views ahead of the project moving to the design stage. More than 500 people took part through a series of drop-in events and an online survey, building on earlier workshops with key partners and community groups. Pre-design consultation feedback was published in April 2026.
Next steps
The pre-design consultation findings will now be used to inform the development of more detailed proposals for the site and the process for statutory consultation. This will take place later in 2026.
The work will be supported by the Thurso Transformation Delivery Group, which brings together partners from multiple organisations to coordinate projects and maximise benefits for Thurso and Caithness. Members include:
- North Highland Chamber of Commerce
- Community Planning Partnership
- Focus North
- Highland Council
- Highlands and Islands Enterprise
- Highlife Highland
- Hub North Scotland
- NHS Highland
- Nuclear Restoration Services Dounreay / Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
- UHI Environmental Research Institute
- UHI North, West and Hebrides
- Thurso Community Council