The Highland Council will present a progress report to Nairn Academy School Parent Council on Thursday night of its proposals for a £1.8m development of the school accommodation in the form of a new Library and Science Faculty.

Officials of the Education Culture and Sport Service have been in close consultation with the school to establish the nature and extent of the accommodation to be provided and full briefs have been developed for the new library and new science faculty, consisting of 10 new science labs and ancillary accommodation.

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The council is seeking to deliver the accommodation through an off-site modular design and build contract and proposed plans for the science accommodation layout will be shown to the school for comment prior to the Parent Council Meeting. The proposal for the Library will follow shortly thereafter.

The ECS Service is working towards award of contract this financial year and, providing cost estimates and contractual conditions can be met, then it may be possible to deliver the accommodation before March 2010. Whilst the proposal demonstrates currently that it may be possible to meet this target there are still statutory process to go through such as Planning Consent and Procurement Regulation that may delay this process.

Council Convener, Councillor Sandy Park, who represents the Nairn ward, said: "This is a very positive development for the school community and demonstrates that The Highland Council is working hard towards providing a quick and appropriate resolution to the accommodation issues at the school. At £1.8m, this upgrade is a major investment by the Council in Nairn."