New schools at Countesswells and Torry on track for 2023 opening

By Garrett Stell

December 1 2022, 5:00 pm

The new Torry Primary School and Community Hub is one of the projects promised next year. Image: Aberdeen City Council

After recent delays to both projects, Aberdeen City Council believes contractors should deliver new schools for Countesswells and Torry on schedule.

The new Torry Primary School and Community Hub were initially set to open in the summer of 2023. But construction delays and complications with demolishing the old Torry Academy knocked the timeline back to autumn 2023.

Agenda papers for next week’s finance and resources committee meeting reveal that council officers are confident that the project is still on track to meet the autumn 2023 timeline.

Meanwhile, a similar project to deliver a new primary school in Countesswells met with good news.

Papers for the same council meeting have confirmed that the new school is on schedule to open in the late spring or early summer of 2023.

Torry councillors welcome the news

Lee Fairfull, SNP councillor for Torry and Ferryhill, said that keeping projects on track isn’t easy during uncertain times.

“We must bear in mind that we are going through a period of uncertainty due to cost inflation and market volatility.

“But I have no doubt that both the new primary and hub will make a real difference to the Torry community and I’m excited for the official opening when it comes.”

Construction at the Torry primary school and community hub site in August. Contractors have told council bosses of soaring costs of basic materials - seen across the local authority's building projects. Image: Wullie Marr/DC Thomson. — Construction at the Torry primary school and community hub site in August. After years of delay, council officials say the project is on course for its 2023 delivery date. Image: Wullie Marr/DC Thomson.

The new project sits on the site of the old Torry Academy. A series of delays dating back to 2020 have hampered the project. The Covid-19 pandemic threw the construction industry into chaos, and crews had to delay asbestos removal from the old Academy building.

The new campus will house Torry Primary School and a community hub, complete with an early learning and childcare centre, cafe, sports facilities and more. Contractors expect the campus to hold 434 primary pupils with room for another 100 at the nursery.

Councillor John Cooke expects the finished campus to receive a warm welcome.

“I’m pleased that there is now light at the end of the tunnel, and this is not before time. I know this will be welcomed by the local community.”

Countesswells school will be a relief for parents

The Countesswells Primary project has had its own share of turmoil. Originally expected to open in 2021, delays consistently hampered the project. The Evening Express revealed in April 2021 that the then-£25 million project was in danger of being scrapped altogether.

An artist’s rendition of the new Countesswells School in Aberdeen. Image: BIG Partnership

But crews eventually broke ground in November of that year and set a target to open in late 2023. Documents ahead of next week’s Aberdeen City finance and resources committee show the council is optimistic about holding to that timeline.

Council education convener Martin Greig said the new school can’t come soon enough.

“I am delighted that work is going well with these local school projects. Young people deserve the best possible learning environment and these new buildings will provide excellent new facilities.

“It will be good to open a new primary for the Countesswells community at last. The building should ideally have opened three years ago.

“Pupils have had to be bussed six-mile round trips each school day to their temporary school.

“It will be a relief to open the doors.”

Contractors expect the school to provide room for 434 primary pupils and 60 nursery placements.