Opening date for new Ardrossan Campus pushed back to 2028

The much-anticipated new Ardrossan Campus is not set to open for another two years.

A report to elected members at Cabinet will confirm that the new facility – which will incorporate an early years centre, primary and secondary school, library and swimming pool – will be completed at the end of May 2028 and open for its first intake of pupils a few months later in August.

The facility had initially been expected to throw open its doors last year but there was a delay until winter 2027 before the latest announcement.

The latest delay came following the revised timescale for the Campus, which are a result of recent works to remove contaminants which were encountered during early excavation works.

As works progressed on site, and in accordance with best practice, testing of excavated materials had continued in order to ensure all health and safety standards were maintained. Appropriate Safe Systems of Work were immediately implemented by the main contractor, with an independent review confirming these measures to be proportionate and compliant.

Moving forward, the report confirms contamination issues have been addressed, enhanced safety measures put in place are no longer required, and construction has moved forward.

Councillor Eleanor Collier, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy, said: “While it is disappointing and frustrating that the opening of the Campus has had to be delayed, we have always been clear that health and safety must come first.

“The scale of what we are developing can’t be over-stated. This was a huge, unkempt piece of brownfield land that had been lying derelict and unused for decades. As a former industrial brownfield site we always knew that some risks would only be fully confirmed once deep excavation had been carried out.

“Despite that, the report also includes some encouraging news, with the project reaching a significant milestone on the construction process as steel work is now rapidly being erected on-site. We are looking forward to a steel signing event with local pupils in the coming months as we build excitement in the run-up to the opening.

“This Campus will change lives for the better, it will serve the community for years to come and be well worth the wait.

“We thank everyone for their patience and promise to provide further updates when we have them. In the meantime, we are now looking forward with real optimism to what promises to be a transformational development for Ardrossan and the wider community.”

The report also details that the additional removal work, and associated safety measures, increased the cost of the project by £9.97m with the total cost now at £124.6m.

The council has confirmed the added costs will be covered through previously approved funding arrangements agreed in February.

The new campus is the first and key phase in the Ardrossan Coastal Quarter plans which will see the derelict site completely regenerated. As well as the state-of-the-art school campus the vision for the wider site also includes the provision of new housing and commercial uses. This transformational redevelopment brings significant investment into a former vacant and derelict site within one of North Ayrshire’s most deprived communities.