The Dumfries and Galloway Smarter Schools project reached financial close on January 8th this year.
The project consists of a design, build, finance, service and maintain programme for 30 years, involving 10 schools, nine of which are new.
In 2006 the “Smarter Schools Project PPP” only attracted one bidder but was since reconfigured. In April 2007 a preferred bidder was announced, the bidder being the Education for Dumfries and Galloway Consortium (E4D&G), consisting of Amey and Cyril Sweet.
The first schools are expected to be ready for Summer 2009, with the rest due for completion by the following summer. A variety of primary and secondary schools, in total nine new schools, will be built around the region. Four of these schools will be built on existing school sites, whereas the Stranraer Academy will be completely rebuilt.
Operis was appointed by the funders, HSBC and EIB, to audit the financial model.