Midlothian high school upgrade costs increase by 'eye-watering' £10.7m

Councillors reacted with anger as they were asked to approve an ‘eye-watering’ £10.7m in additional funds to refurbish a secondary school.

The cost of the work at Penicuik High School increased by 24 per cent from £44.7m to £55.3m with rising construction costs and delays to the start of the project blamed.

But while a meeting of Midlothian councillors approved the extra money, elected members expressed their ‘disappointment’ at the spiralling costs.

Councillor Russell Imrie told the meeting the new cost was ‘eye-watering’ adding: “The problem is if we take £10m out of our capital funding something else suffers”

And Councillor Derek Milligan said: “I am flabbergasted, we have lost control of our capital spending and capital plan.”

Councillor Milligan pointed out the local authority had built a new school at Lasswade for £38m yet the costs of refurbishing an existing school had increased to over £55m, two and a half years after councillors approved its £44m budget in June 2023 adding “it beggars belief”.

Councillor Peter Smaill asked how the council had found itself in such a vulnerable position pointing out reasons for additional funding such as ‘poorer ground conditions’ and part of the school which was built in the 1930s not being energy efficient should have been known from the start.

He said: “How did we get in this position, was there something wrong with the original surveyors who went in and said ‘actually its hunky dory’? Or did we not specify in a probing manner that anyone extending their house would think about.”

Penicuik High School is to undergo a major refit with a new three storey extension and plans to create a central assembly and courtyard space for students.

The report to councillors said there had been delays with work now expected to begin in the spring of next year and complete in 2028. Just under £22million of the costs are expected to be met through the Scottish Futures Trust LEIP (Learning Estates Investment Programme).

Councillor Ellen Scott, the administration spokesperson on education, urged elected members to support the request for the additional money.

She said: “There is no getting away from the fact it is disappointing to hear of the delay and rising costs affected by the rising construction costs, extensive designs and need for further surveys and safety checks.

“Unfortunately it is a sign of our times that things are increasing extraordinarily.

“In the end we know the end product will be a landmark energy efficient building that will be enjoyed by pupils, staff and the wider community for decades to come.”

Councillors approved the additional funding despite the Labour group expressing its ‘unhappiness’ at the request.