School Estate Management

Thurso Community POD

We are investing £100 million to create a new community hub in Thurso. This is part of the Highland Investment Plan.

What is a PoD

A Point of Delivery (PoD) is a hub that brings services together in one place. This makes them easier to access and helps organisations work better together.

PoDs can include:

• community spaces
• offices
• depots

Choice of location

Thurso High School needs 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 High School site and linked to the UHI North, West and Hebrides campus. This area offers space for new education, sports and leisure facilities, and stronger links with UHI. We are using a place-based approach, working with the community and partners to make sure plans meet local needs.

We have committed £100 million to this project as part of the Highland Investment Plan, which will invest £2 billion across the region.

The PoD will bring many benefits to Thurso, including:

• modern learning spaces that meet today’s needs
• easier moves between nursery, primary and secondary school
• safer walking routes with better separation from traffic
• improved cycle and walking routes along Ormlie Road
• lower maintenance and utility costs

Education and other projects

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 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

Public consultations

You can help shape the future of Thurso.
Public consultation events:

• Tuesday 9 December – Gallery Room, North Coast Visitor Centre, 2 pm to 8 pm
• Wednesday 10 December – Gallery Room, North Coast Visitor Centre, 2 pm to 4 pm

We want to hear your views. Whether you have feedback or questions, these events are your chance to get involved. This is the first stage of consultation and more events will follow.

Next steps and partners

We will keep working with the public and partners to develop the PoD plans and prepare a business case.
The Thurso Transformation Delivery Group (TTDG) brings organisations together to make sure projects deliver the best results 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