Council welcomes planning permission for Wick Schools and Community Complex

15th August 2013

Highland Councillors have welcomed a major step forward in the delivery of a new school and community complex for Wick with the granting of planning permission this week.

The development includes a new High School, Primary School, Pre School, community swimming pool/fitness suite and a community library.

Councillor Alasdair Christie, Chairman of The Highland Council�s Adult and Children�s Services Committee said: �This is another key achievement of the Council�s Programme to provide modern schools for the Highlands through working with the Scottish Government. We are ensuring that young people in Caithness and the Highlands will have access to the best education system we can deliver.�

Local Highland Councillor Gail Ross for the Wick Ward and Chairperson of the Wick Schools Stakeholders Group added: �This is excellent news for pupils and families in Wick that planning permission has been granted for the Wick Schools and Community Complex. We look forward to seeing works starting and for the plans to become reality.�

The proposal attracted two letters of representation the contents of which were considered as part of the overall assessment. No objections were raised by any of the statutory consultees subject to conditions. The proposal was classed as a major application and was subject of a processing agreement which was determined within the agreed timescales

Wick schools and community complex project represents an investment of approximately �39M which is being funded by The Highland Council and the Scottish Government.

The Council hopes the project will begin before the end of this calendar year with an expected completion date of August 2015.