A key contract for a planned multi-million-pound extension of Park Mains High School in Erskine is expected to go before councillors for consideration next month.
The project, which will boost capacity at the Barrhill Road facility and is anticipated to cost in the region £37 million, is said to be “progressing” and the procurement process to appoint a main contractor has begun.
That’s according to a learning estate update report that is due to be discussed at Renfrewshire Council’s education and children’s services policy board on Thursday.
It explained: “The project to extend and enhance Park Mains High School is progressing with the procurement process to appoint a main contractor under way.
“Tenders have been received and this will now progress through the relevant process where a recommended contractor will be proposed to the finance, resources and customer services policy board in February 2025.”
The 400-pupil expansion is needed to meet an expected rise in pupil numbers – largely linked to the growth of Bishopton’s Dargavel Village – in the years ahead.
The report detailed that design work is continuing to develop and confirmed the project team have a proposed concept in hand.
It added: “These designs have been informed through significant engagement with the school community including the parent council of Park Mains, parent councils of all associated primary schools, pupils and staff.
“This engagement began in late 2023 with design partners from Space Zero who led in-depth engagement with the school community to inform the provisional designs.”
Two information evenings were held at the school in a bid to capture views on the plans at the end of last year as part of the proposal of application notice process. This will be followed by an application for planning permission.
However, the next major stage in the project is to appoint a main contractor, who will take on the final design stage and move towards a construction start date in 2026 and subsequent completion in 2027.
The decision to extend Park Mains to add capacity for another 400 pupils – which will bring the total capacity to approximately 2,000 – was made at the board in May 2023.
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