Highland Council has appointed the preferred main contractors for the first construction projects to be delivered under its new Highland Investment Plan (HIP).
Morgan Sindall, Morrison Construction, Robertson Group and Ogilvie will work on seven key multi-million-pound projects across the region from Thurso to Inverness.
Highland Council leaders welcomed the appointments as a key moment for the HIP, which will build on the momentum from the early work already carried out.
The HIP is a £2.1 billion, 20-year capital investment programme led by the Council to deliver improvements to local infrastructure and services and will be financed through a combination of capital investment and a dedicated annual allocation of 2% ring-fenced Council Tax revenue.
This includes £750 million of investment over the next five years.
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, offices, depots and partners, creating more integrated community-based facilities.
The first projects to have preferred main contractors appointed are:
- Beauly Primary PoD - Morgan Sindall
- Charleston Academy PoD - Morgan Sindall
- Dingwall Primary PoD including St Clements School - Robertson Group
- Fortrose Academy PoD - Morrison Construction
- Inverness High School PoD - Ogilive Construction
- Thurso PoD - Morrison Construction.
- Tornagrain Primary PoD - Robertson Group
The appointments will allow contractors to be involved in the consultation, design and pre-planning stages of the HIP projects.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Raymond Bremner, said: “This marks a major milestone for the Highland Investment Plan and a welcome step forward for our communities. The plan represents an innovative and ambitious approach to capital investment, which will deliver long-term, sustainable improvements to our schools, community facilities, offices and depots across the Highlands.”
Convener of the Council, Cllr Bill Lobban, said: “The HIP is a ground-breaking and innovative long-term infrastructure investment programme, which will create transformative change over the next decade, With these contractors now appointed, we can move to the next phase of our planning, including further engagement with our communities and design and pre-planning activities.”
Chair of the Housing and Property Committee, Cllr Glynis Sinclair, said: “The HIP will help drive significant economic growth and deliver community benefits across the Highlands, including new homes and local employment opportunities, as well as graduate and apprenticeship posts. This investment plan will play a vital role in encouraging more people to live and work in the Highlands, positioning our area as a sustainable destination of choice.”
The Council has overall responsibility for the delivery of the HIP programme, supported by hub North Scotland as delivery partner.
Hub North Scotland Chief Executive Richard Park described the appointment of the preferred main contractor as a landmark moment, adding: “The ambition and scale of investment for this plan are unprecedented and great progress is already being made to help design and deliver these new community facilities at pace.”
Gordon Williamson, Managing Director for Morrison Construction Building Highland, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to this first phase of the Council’s Highland Investment Plan. We look forward to working with all the stakeholders involved to bring forward plans for these two new schools and help create the educational facilities that local students deserve.”
Stuart Parker, Managing Director of Morgan Sindall Construction in Scotland, commented: "We are thrilled to have been appointed to deliver both the Charleston Academy and Beauly PoD projects, and to be starting what we hope will become a strong, long-term partnership with hub North Scotland. These appointments reflect our continued work with The Highland Council and the strength of our Inverness-based team, which has extensive experience delivering projects across the region.”
Elliot Robertson, Chief Executive Officer for the Robertson Construction Group, said: "The Highland Investment Plan is a transformative programme that will bring lasting benefits to communities across the region. We look forward to collaborating with Highland Council and hub North Scotland to deliver the Dingwall and Tornagrain projects. Our team is ready to apply its previous expertise in delivering community-based integrated facilities.”
Martin Poole, Preconstruction Director, Ogilvie Construction, commented: “We are delighted to have been appointed to this contract and look forward to working collaboratively with Highland Council and hub North Scotland to deliver a high-quality building at Inverness High School.”
The preferred main contractors join HIP project teams which include architects NORR, Holmes Miller and the in-house Highland Council Design & Construction team, along with consultants from a wide range of disciplines including Currie & Brown, Doig & Smith, Turner & Townsend, DSSR, Goodson Associates, Brown & Wallace, Atkins Realis, Fairhurst, Rybka, Harley Haddow and Etive.