Forres Academy - New School Build

Biodiversity has been a key consideration in the development of the proposed site design. Both a landscape architect (Ryder) and a qualified ecologist (Arthian) have been appointed to the project team to ensure biodiversity is enhanced in line with local priorities and ecological best practice. 

A dedicated biodiversity enhancement area has been proposed to the rear of the site, adjacent to the burn and 3G pitch. This space will feature native tree planting and wildflower meadows, selected to suit the wetland environment and to strengthen natural remediation and resilience should water levels rise. While this is a smaller focused zone, biodiversity improvements will take place across the entire site. 

The aim of the landscape plan is to enhance the natural environment within the site and to add value to the surrounding areas, with the key deliverables:

• Retain existing green space and landscaping such as trees and shrubs
• Increase the sites biodiversity by 10% in line with NPF4
• Provide safe and accessible routes with the site that connect to the existing network of footpaths and cycle routes
• Provide areas of open space and planting throughout the site that will reduce the impact upon views and strengthen the existing character of the site
• Clearly defined entrance points to the building, both public and pupil
• Provide clearly defined separate secure spaces for use by the ASN and secondary school
• Provide safe accessible pedestrian access routes separate from vehicle access
• Encourage active travel such as cycling by providing a clearly defined network of pedestrian and cycle routes to the site that connect to the surrounding residential areas
• Use the proposed building to provide external dining terraces and performance spaces
• Create a mixture of external spaces for socialising, play and teaching
• Provide sport facilities that are accessible to both the school and the wider community

Moray Council will consider NatureScot guidance published on gull management for consideration in the design, implementation during construction and extended into school operation. 

The law protects all wild birds, including gulls and their nests and eggs (Birds and the law). Whilst many actions can be undertaken to help prevent or minimise problems caused by gulls without contravening the law, sometimes it may be necessary e.g. by removing nests or eggs where problems are evident or expected. In these instances, NatureScot would likely be approached for a licence such activities as a last resort in order to preserve public health or safety.

All Common Good property falls into one of two categories – alienable or inalienable. Alienable property can be sold, leased or otherwise disposed of in a permanent or semi-permanent way that reduces public use. Inalienable property cannot without a court order.

Inalienable property includes town halls, market squares, parks or greens, and churches – although the status of each asset needs to be individually determined, it cannot be assumed. All other Common Good property would be alienable.

Inalienable Common Good - in order to appropriate the land the Council would require to obtain the consent of the Sheriff Court in terms of Section 75(2) Local Government (Scotland) Act. In addition, Section 104 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, which came into force on 27 June 2018, requires that before taking any decision to appropriate a Common Good asset the Council must publish details about the proposed disposal.

A: Consultation on any changes to Common Good land as a consequence of the New Forres Academy project will be undertaken in accordance with Part 8 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. Details of this can be found at the Scottish Government website.

Consultation in relation to the use of the Common Good land at Roysvale Park commenced on 18th September 2024 and ran until 12th November with a public drop in session held at Forres Academy on 21 October between 4pm-7pm. Full consultation information and how to respond can be found here.

A Special Moray Council meeting was held on 21 January 2025 to present a report on the Common Good Consultation.  The Council decided to go ahead with the court application to temporarily use the Common Good land for site setup, a contractor’s compound, and parking for construction traffic during the build and will also ask for approval for the permanent development of the land as a bus drop-off area for the school.  A statutory advertisement will be placed in the local press to inform the local public that the court process has commenced.

The time risks associated with both site options are detailed in the 22 May 24 report to Council.

The current project takes account of a 6 month timescale to undertake the Roysvale Common Good consultation and acknowledges there is a risk that if there are challenges to the planned use of common good land the project may be delayed a further 12 months.

As the Council does not own the Lochyhill site it would require to negotiate the acquisition of the land from the current owner. There is a risk that the owner or owners would be unwilling to sell, or that the price sought would not meet affordability criteria.

With similar situations in other projects the Council has promoted a compulsory purchase order (CPO) in tandem with landowner negotiations.  As part of the CPO process the Council would need to justify its requirement for that particular site (with reference to alternatives) and 18 months minimum would need to be allowed for this process which would impact the operational date out to January 2029.

Both Roysvale Park and the new Forres Academy will be available for use by Applegrove (and other primary schools within the Associate School Group). Roysvale Park will not be fenced off.

Construction at either site would be bound by planning conditions and health & safety legislation. Due to the size of the project, it would have to be formally ‘notified’ to the Health and Safety Executive.

During planning there is a requirement to provide a construction traffic management plan which covers key issues on site:

• Keeping pedestrians and vehicles apart
• Minimising vehicle movements
• People on site
• Turning vehicles
• Visibility
• Signs and instructions

Planning conditions would state what hours of work would be permitted which would take into account noise. A construction impact assessment would also be required.

There was little to no impact on either the recent Lossiemouth High School or Elgin High School new builds – both within the grounds of an existing school. This was achieved through good communication between the main contractor and school on all aspects of construction. Any noisy works that would impact school were undertaken outside school hours and, where required, exams were relocated but this was known well in advance. Indeed, the majority of newbuild schools across Scotland typically are constructed on the existing sports facilities (grass pitches) with a demolition of the existing premises following on.

Our civil engineers have undertaken site investigations and any impact on site suitability due to ‘historical’ issues will have been identified. If any further issues materialise during the next stages of design and early construction these will be addressed by the appointed civil engineers on the design team. This applies to either site selected. All due diligence on risks to surrounding properties would be undertaken. The best practise approach, employed with previous new school projects, is that condition surveys of the surrounding houses may be undertaken prior to construction starting so that if any issues were reported during construction these could be compared with the condition surveys to ascertain if the issue is a result of the construction works.

A full health and safety plan will be implemented including the management of noise as stipulated by the Health and Safety Executive. It will be a legal requirement to ‘notifiable’ the project to the HSE and will be managed within Construction Design and Management (CDM) Regulations – Part 3 of which mandates health and safety duties and roles. As part of construction planning there would be a stipulation of working hours, acceptable noise levels during construction etc.

Many new build schools have been constructed adjacent to an existing school (Elgin HS and Lossiemouth HS are recent examples) and as with those projects the H&S management of the sites will take account of all risks across the period of the construction phase.

The current design has identified that localised ground improvement techniques, rather than piling, will be required and will only be local to the footprint of the pad foundations to offer an enhanced bearing pressure.

All the aspects highlighted in the question would be addressed during detailed design stage and through the planning application and mitigations implemented during construction

An archaeological survey is typically required when planning a new construction project and this project is no exception. Both the sites would be surveyed early in the planning process and the risk of discovering evidence of anything of archaeological significance that would delay the project is considered to be the same.

The planning application process will take account of any local heritage issues related to the site selected. Any planning approval conditions related to these with be addressed during design which will not compromise the delivery of a state of the art sustainable new school.

The detailed design process will determine what the utility requirements are at the selected site, which will include discussions with the respective utility companies.

There is no evidence to suggest that school building projects have a negative impact on pupil learning or attainment. 

For example, Applegrove Primary School underwent significant refurbishment between July 2015 and June 2017 while pupils remained in the building. There was no impact on pupil attainment during this period. 

It is common practice for new schools to be built on or near existing school grounds, and our Tier 1 contractor has successfully managed this approach across Scotland, including recent projects at Elgin High School and Lossiemouth High School. These projects were completed while schools remained operational, with careful planning in place to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment throughout.

The design will not use percussion piling.

The only current planned requirement for the current school site is that the swimming and hydro pools will be retained. Dependent on the agreed site location for the future school other areas of the existing school building may be repurposed for use by both the school and community or by just the community. One early consideration is for the area to be redeveloped and repurposed as a ‘sports hub’ and ‘health and wellbeing’ area focused on access to outdoor green space.

There are no plans at present as we are still at early design stage although there are options to utilise these within any development of an outdoor sports and health and wellbeing hub on the site of the ‘old’ school.

There are none at present as we are at the very early stages of design. These will be available at the end of Stage 1 design development and will form part of any planning application. The detailed design phase, including the PAN notice, will be submitted at the end of May 2025. Design information will be available during the statutory consultation sessions, which will be advertised in due course.

The potential decrease in the Gross Internal Floor Area (GIFA) between the current and new Forres Academy is not a concern. The design process has focused on ensuring that the school spaces are optimised and adaptable, supporting changes in pupil numbers and curriculum over the expected operational life of the school building. Rather than a dedicated room per teacher, the new design has classrooms that can be timetabled across several different subjects thereby ensuring efficient and effective utilisation of space and reducing overall cost of the project.

A Pre Application Notice (PAN) for the new Forres Academy was submitted on 30 May 2025. As part of this process, concept design information is being shared with the public during a dedicated consultation period.

The first public engagement session took place on 24 June 2025, and a second session is planned for 19 August 2025, shortly after the start of the new school year. 

All information provided during these sessions is available to view on the Moray Council website and can also be accessed at Forres Library for the duration of the PAN process. 

The public is encouraged to review the information and provide feedback, which can be submitted online or in paper format at Forres Library.

The Learning Estate team cannot comment on the future of the Forres House Community Centre, especially as we are not aware of any consultation on its future decision. Although, the new Forres Academy will be a state of the art community hub that will deliver significant and long term future benefit to the Forres and wider Moray community, this has been considered independently of any other decision on Council infrastructure.

There was early engagement with other partner services on the concept design for the school however, there are no existing plans to relocate other services such as the police station or social services within the school during the school day.

The site proposes accessible and drop off parking adjacent to the north aspect of the proposed new building. A larger car parking area will be developed on the site of the existing Academy with access pathways to the school site

Safeguarding young people and ensuring the security of school staff are key objectives of the new school's design and will not be compromised. This includes planning for both safe evacuation and robust lockdown scenarios, while facilitating managed and supervised public access to shared areas during and outside the school day.

Initial engagement on the concept design involved Council Education Team, staff, pupils, and parent councils. This engagement will continue as the design develops and project progresses into construction. Any legitimate concerns have been incorporated into the concept design and any future issues or risks raised will be considered and mitigated as required.

Bird control management plan will be considered both during construction and during operational use. This consideration applies to either site option.

There are a number of 5-18 campus schools already operational in Scotland and further schools are planned. In the case of the Applegrove/Roysvale site it provides an opportunity to create a 5-18 community campus school by incorporating the existing Applegrove into the design consideration.

If Lochyhill is developed there is capital funds to build a secondary school only, with the associated LEIP 3 funding based on a like for like replacement of the current Forres Academy.

The benefit of 5-18 campuses is well evidenced in Scotland and elsewhere. Specific areas of benefit include:

Learning
 

• Having staff who know the young people well throughout their time at school and with the ability to manage progression/transitions as they move through their learning journey
• Enabling younger pupils to access specialist subject facilities and specialist teaching that would not otherwise be available to them in a traditional Primary school; and
• Providing opportunities for cross age collaborative working and mentoring amongst pupils.

Staffing
 

• Allowing staff to work across the whole age range, collaborate and share specialist skills. This creates opportunities for innovative approaches to teaching and learning;
• Greater opportunities for staff in terms of professional development and career progression which can support recruitment and retention; and
• Opportunities to bring together staff with specialist skills and knowledge, for example in ASN, to share expertise and support young people throughout their education.

Families

• Allowing parents to form a long-term relationship with one school through their child’s education;
• Ensuring families are known by the school and are getting the help and support they need, whatever age their children; and
• Supporting parents through opportunities for older siblings to take younger children to school or by having a single drop off point for parents at the start of the school day.

Efficiency

It is still important to create age-appropriate spaces and a sense of progression through the school and in the external areas, but there are opportunities to provide real efficiencies:

• in the design and use of space
  
• effective management structure which spans 5-18
  
• use of admin support and other non-teaching posts across the campus

Learning Together: Opening up Learning (2009)

Learning Together: Opening up Learning (2010)

As a LEIP 3 project the new Forres Academy design is required to meet strict energy efficiency and low carbon footprint metrics – and Scottish Government future funding would not be available if it did not prove to be during its initial 25 year operation life. The new school design will consider the most effective and efficient non-fossil fuel heating and power options to deliver a sustainable net zero carbon building.

The LEIP funding criteria can be found here.

The project Quantity Surveyors have compared the substructure costs between both the Roysvale and Lochyhill site options and based on the known site conditions, Lochyhill site is more expensive as it would require a piled foundation solution whereas Roysvale will only require localised ground improvement techniques.

Both identified sites are of a similar size. The Roysvale/Ashgrove site option facilitates the use of the current Academy site for school and community use and is a slightly larger site. The intent for the final design of the school is that it is sympathetic to neighbouring properties and any design impacts will be the subject of the future planning approval process.

These details are being developed and once a solution has been agreed the detailed design will be included within any planning application.

The information displayed has included a red line boundary.  This is the boundary line identifying the area that will be included within the proposed development, it does not represent the school boundary.

The Schools Premises Scotland Regs 1967 recommends a site area based on the school size and to have available and in close proximity, playing fields sized accordingly.  This area requirement is considered on a case by case basis and now takes account of all weather surface pitches and multi use games area (MUGA) provision.  

The potential decrease in the Gross Internal Floor Area (GIFA) between the current and new Forres Academy is not a concern. The design process has focused on ensuring that the school spaces are optimised and adaptable, supporting changes in pupil numbers and curriculum over the expected operational life of the school building.  Rather than a dedicated room per teacher, the new design has classrooms that can be timetabled across several different subjects thereby ensuring efficient and effective utilisation of space and reducing overall cost of the project. This design approach has been agreed and embraced with our education stakeholders and it would be remiss of council officers not to seek ways of optimising design and reducing project costs.

The new school design approach is focused on optimising design to support shared use with the community – with the adjacencies of potential invited space (e.g. sports and drama) to the shared public spaces (entrance and reception) a priority design objective to facilitate this. The Learning Estate team cannot comment on the future of the Forres House Community Centre, especially as we are not aware of any consultation on its future decision. However, we can state with confidence that the new Forres Academy, both internally and externally, will be a state of the art community hub that will deliver significant and long term future benefit to the Forres and wider Moray community.

The current school design includes a servery that could be made available to the community to support booked internal and external activities. However, there are currently no plans to operate this space as a public community café.

The design seeks to optimise teaching and non-teaching spaces to support the current curriculum and extra-curricular activities. This will also support a more flexible use of space that will see some teachers using a suite of spaces rather than ‘owning’ a classroom.

This project is not dealing with ELC provision, however it can be confirmed that there is existing capacity within the Forres ASG

The direct adjacency of Applegrove Primary School in addition to Anderson’s Primary School and Pilmuir Primary School nearby to the new Forres Academy is a strategic decision that aligns with national policy drivers such as Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC), Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) and Scotland’s Learning Estate Strategy which promote collaboration, inclusion and equity across education. This adjacency will provide enhanced learning and teaching opportunities for primary school staff and pupils with:

• :Ease of access to specialist facilities such as practical science classrooms, digital suites, technical workshops, performance and art studios and modern sports facilities;
• Opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and shared thematic projects (project based learning) with secondary departments will enhance depth, progression, and challenge for senior primary pupils, especially in P6 and P7; and, 
• Primary school staff benefiting from professional learning partnerships with secondary colleagues, encouraging innovation and consistency in pedagogy and assessment practices across the BGE (Broad General Education) phase. 

It will further support improved transitions and continuity of learning where:

• :Physical proximity to a larger local Primary School and nearness to two other local Primary Schools (Anderson’s and Pilmuir) fosters a seamless transition from primary to secondary, reducing anxiety and promoting familiarity with staff, spaces, routines, and expectations; 
• Joint curriculum planning across P7-S1 may be supported for continuity and progression in key curricular areas such as literacy, numeracy, STEM, and expressive arts; and,
• Earlier planned engagement with guidance staff and pastoral support systems would enhance pastoral continuity, ensuring that children are known well and supported effectively before and after transition. 

It will also provide broader opportunities for inclusion and personal development:

• :Access to wider extra-curricular activities and accommodation, which may include sports teams, music ensembles, clubs, and leadership programmes, will support the personal and social development of primary pupils;
• Children with Additional Support Needs (ASN) would benefit from early access to enhanced support services and inclusion strategies developed at secondary level, ensuring consistency and strengthened transition planning; and,
• Senior secondary pupils can be available to serve as mentors, role models, or reading buddies, fostering a culture of leadership, inclusion, and cross-age collaboration as well as potential to achieve additional qualifications or awards. 

The ‘shared’ campus model that the adjacency allows to develop will support efficient use of shared resources and promote a community identity by:

• Promoting a coherent educational campus identity, supporting equity of access and community cohesion across all age groups;
• Enhancing the efficient and sustainable use of public resources, including staff expertise, facilities, catering, and transport logistics; and,
• Acting as a community hub, bringing together children, families, and wider partners in learning, wellbeing, and support.

The new Forres Academy will have a flat roof with a 4% pitch to allow for effective roof drainage and water runoff

All rainwater downpipes in the proposed school design will be external, which will help prevent water from entering the building and reduce the risk of internal blockages.

The staff car park will be located within a short walking distance of the school building. The car park will be located on the site of the existing Forres Academy and will be accessed off Sanquhar Road.

Concept design information is available to view here

The design is compliant with the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards)(Scotland) Regulations 1967. The Council is aware the Scottish Government intends to refresh and modernise the School Premises Regulations with consultation due to commence this year. The work previously undertaken on updating the School Premises Regulations following the consultation in 2017/18 was paused due to a number of substantial issues, for example the Covid pandemic. 

There is an Enhanced Provision garden included in the design and this has been developed in close consultation with relevant staff to ensure the provision meets the requirements of the pupils.

The wellbeing requirements for Enhanced ASN pupils were considered and managed during the previous Applegrove PS project and this will be the case with the new Forres Academy new build.

The design has to be legally compliant with the following legislation and avoid discrimination in access to facilities and services.

1. Equality Act 2010
2. Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils’ Educational Records) (Scotland) Act 2002
3. Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations - Section 4: Accessibility 

The design considers:

Access and Circulation

• Step-free access to all entrances and exits
• Wide corridors and doorways for wheelchair users
• Accessible lifts to all floors
• Clear, contrasting signage and tactile surfaces

Facilities

• Accessible toilets on every floor
• Changing Places facilities where appropriate
• Hearing enhancement systems (e.g., induction loops) in key areas like assembly halls. 

Inclusive Learning Environments

• Flexible classroom layouts to accommodate different needs.
• Acoustic treatments to support pupils with hearing impairments or sensory sensitivities.
• Lighting controls to reduce glare and support visual impairments. 

Outdoor Spaces

• Accessible routes to playgrounds, sports areas, and gardens.
• Seating and shelter designed with inclusive access in mind.

A Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Impact Assessment will require to be submitted in support of any planning application for this site. 

Existing flooding occurs within the site boundary in the 1 in 200-year event. The source of this flooding is from the Burn of Mosset and Sanquhar Loch to the south of the site, with the predominant area affected being the existing school and smaller areas of flooding within Roysvale park. 

The extent of this flooding has been determined from SEPA flood maps, and a flood risk assessment completed by Moray Council in 2021 and recently updated to reflect the proposed finished levels of the site on removal of the existing academy building. 

To ensure that there is no additional flooding outwith the boundary of the site, if this site was selected, it is proposed that any flood water displaced by the new development will be accommodated by lowering levels elsewhere within the site boundary (known as compensatory storage). Given the low levels of flooding on the site, it is expected that only minor adjustments to the existing levels to the south of the site will be required to accommodate this. This in turn will ensure that there is no increase in flood risk to surrounding properties as a result of this development, up to the 1 in 200-year event (with an allowance for the effects of climate change). 

As part of the next design stage, if this site was selected, further detailed flood studies will be carried out to accurately determine the flood extents and the detailed design of any compensatory storage required. 

Drainage - the surrounding network is a fully combined system. A Pre Development Enquiry has been submitted by civil engineers (as part of their standard site investigation) to Scottish Water to establish if sufficient capacity exists to allow for both surface and foul water to be discharged to this network. The proposals for the site have been accepted by Scottish Water through the pre-development response. 

Groundwater - The preliminary boreholes show that the water table varies from 0.69-1.96 metres below ground level (mbgl). Recharge was noted during site investigation which indicates that standing water table is present. Based on this, it is likely that the contractor will encounter ground water during foundation and drainage excavations, and an allowance for dewatering would be considered. 

Surface Water Discharge – the main impact of any building development is an increase to the proportion of impermeable surfaces (e.g., roofs and paved areas) within the site and without careful planning this could increase peak rate rainwater runoff. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) aim to mitigate this effect by emulating natural drainage systems and the provision of storage. Options such as porous paving, filter strips and linear swales which can be accommodated within the landscaping will be preferred. It is also assumed that to attenuate the additional storm water runoff from the development, a below ground storage tank will also be required. The connection for the surface water would need to be approved by Scottish Water on the site. The primary method of attenuation would be provided by below ground attenuation tanks as it is anticipated that options such as SUDS basins and ponds will not be viable for this site due to their large land take. The overall impact of the proposed site civil engineering approach is that current flooding issues on the Roysvale park area would be significantly mitigated.

A Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Impact Assessment will require to be submitted in support of any planning application for this site.

Flooding - Pluvial (rainwater) flooding is observed on SEPA flood maps, however, this is not of concern as drainage design will take this into consideration.

Groundwater - The boreholes show that the water table varies from 3.2 – 4.6 metres below ground level (mbgl). Based on this it is anticipated that ground water may be encountered in deeper excavations.

Surface Water Discharge – A connection for the surface water discharge is yet to be approved by Scottish Water, and the area of hard standing is yet to be set, therefore, the outfall rate cannot fully determined at this stage. However, based on the assumption the school will have a similar layout to the proposals at Applegrove/Roysvale Park it is estimated approximately 1400m3 of storage will be required to manage the “1 in 200-year” storm event with climate change. The primary method of attenuation will be provided by below ground attenuation tanks as it is anticipated that options such as SUDS basins and ponds will not be viable for this site due to their large land take. 

The overall impact of the proposed site civil engineering approach is that current flooding issues on the Roysvale park area would be significantly mitigated.

A Predevelopment Enquiry was sent to Scottish Water to confirm the capacity of the existing sewer network. Scottish Water have confirmed capacity subject to final design, which will be confirmed at the next project stage.

SEPA will be a statutory consultee throughout the planning application process. We would expect them to review the detailed information submitted as part of that process. · An initial consultation with Moray Council's Flood Team regarding flood risk on the Applegrove/Roysvale site has agreed the principals of the design and parameters of the detailed flood study which will be further developed at the next stage of the project.

Detailed technical reports by our civil and structural engineers with be developed during the next stage of the design process. In addition, CCTV surveys will be carried out at some point over the next few months to confirm the drainage records – this will form part of the detailed flood risk assessment. This will also include computer based hydrological modelling. All this technical information will be made available as part of the future statutory planning process

Scottish Water have undertaken survey work to properties within the area to the north of the proposed new school site that are at a very high risk of flooding from the sewers. They are looking at deploying mitigation or Property Level Protection (PLP) to properties in and around Tolbooth St/ Bank St/ Orchard Street. They are also helping customers in Burngreen Lane. Scottish Water are tasked with reducing the risk of repeat internal sewer flooding, and are looking at mitigation with flood doors, flood barriers and air vent protection. Some of the properties are in Scottish Water highest risk category so a permanent scheme will also be progressing. This flooding risk is not the same to the surface water/water table issues that are noted on the Roysvale site.

The design team is reviewing options on how to mitigate surface water flooding.  Dialogue is ongoing with both internal and external agencies and once a solution has been agreed the detailed design will be included within any planning application.

Detailed cost information has not been released into the public domain as is commercially sensitive however the cost estimates have included a related risk contingency factor for such items.  This information was included in then Education, Children’s & Leisure Services (ECLS) committee paper on 14 May 2024, a link to this paper can be found at the top of this webpage.

SEPA and Scottish Water have been consulted throughout the concept design stages to help shape the flood management and drainage plans for the site. This engagement will continue throughout the detailed design and construction phases to ensure all requirements are met. 

Both organisations will also be statutory consultees as part of the full planning application process, providing further opportunity for formal input and review.

The core requirement of the design is to improve both surface water run-off and the wider drainage issue on the site – which by design will also benefit the wider community in this area. The final site drainage design solutions will need to comply with legislation on management of surface water and be approved by SEPA and Scottish Water.

Regardless of what the preferred option is we will always strive to provide outdoor/green space for all our children and young people. Options will be explored to ensure minimum impact on Applegrove pupils.

At this stage we are unable to say whether these areas would be at risk. If Roysvale site was chosen, the determination of risk would be subject to the chosen future design of the school. Any future planning application would need to be cognisant of tree preservation or replacement requirements.

A survey of the existing trees has been undertaken and can be found here.

Appendix 1 - North Area Arboricultural Assessment

Appendix 2 - South Area Arboricultural Assessment

Currently the football pitch can be hired/ booked by the public and the park is also used by Forres Academy for PE and these arrangements will remain in place.  We are also aware that the general public access this space for informal recreation purposes which will also continue as is the current status.

A workshop was held on 4 December 2023 with local groups, community council, parent council representatives regarding outdoor spaces.  Discussions have also been held with Forres skate park and community football trust. Conversations on the outdoor space will continue especially the use of the existing school site once returned to green space.

Access to outdoor space will be maintained throughout construction, with plans in place to ensure that pupils continue to have safe, usable areas for play and learning. The project is being designed with careful consideration to ensure Applegrove pupils continue to benefit from high-quality outdoor environments both during and after the build, with all pupils having access to the new 3G pitch. In addition, the project includes improvements to the drainage of Roysvale Park and the surrounding land, which will enhance the quality and year-round usability of green space in the long term, which both Applegrove Primary and the new school will have access to.

Scottish Government Learning Estate Investment Programme Phase 3 (LEIP3) funding delivers a maximum 50% revenue-based funding (operational funding) opportunity over 25 years and requires the council to comply with the performance targets set by Scottish Futures Trust. The funding is on a sliding scale dependant on what targets are met. The upfront project capital expenditure will fall to the Council to provide.

Detailed cost information has not been released into the public domain as is commercially sensitive however the cost estimates have included a related risk contingency factor for such items.  This information was included in the Education, Children’s & Leisure Services (ECLS) committee paper on 14 May 2024, a link to this paper can be found at the top of this webpage.

Detailed cost information has not been released into the public domain due to commercial sensitivity, however the cost estimates have included a related risk contingency factor related to both the preferred Applegrove/Roysvale site and the alternative Lochyhill site.

Moray Council have recently appointed legal counsel to support their Common Good application process. A statutory advertisement will be placed in the local press to inform the local public that the court process has commenced.

We considered a number of Council and privately owned land around Forres that could support a new school. Based on a number of factors the preferred Applegrove site was selected. Full details on the site selection information can be found here

Originally 8 sites were considered for a new build. 3 of these were not shortlisted for review as considered too small and/or within flood or flood alleviation impacted areas. Of the remaining 5 ‘viable’ sites council officers subsequently discounted 2 further sites: Grant Park site to the south of Andersons Primary on South Street due to the land being held in trust this was dismissed, the site to the east of Mannachie Road which was discounted due to this already being targeted for development as part of the Moray Growth Deal Housing Mix project.

Following several more assessments a further site at Grantown Road was discounted, due to the close nature of a gas pipeline and it being outside the Forres Town boundary with the surrounding areas not included in the Local Development Plan for development.

This leaves Lochyhills and Applegrove/ Roysvale as the 2 remaining options.

The current site falls within a significant flood area adjacent to the Mosset Burn – planning requirements now take account of future climate change and increased flooding risks and this makes the current site not viable for a full rebuild on the site. In addition, to redevelop on the current site would require most if not all the school to decant to temporary modular accommodation for up to 3 years which in addition to adding significant project costs would have an impact on education delivery.

Existing annual school roll forecasting for the Forres ASG and wider Moray area takes account of future capacity requirements over the next 8 years – birth rate and residential development, which are the key contributors, have been considered in terms of the design requirement for the future school. The most recent school roll forecasting figures can be found here and these will be updated in early 2025.

A further look ahead to 2035 – which takes account of significant residential development to the east of the town (Lochyhills) – has also been undertaken using historical building output rates.

The place-based review shared in November 2023 was an initial assessment of the then 3 site options against the new school project strategic objectives. It was not intended to determine a preferred site option at that time but demonstrate some early site factor considerations that had been identified could support future site selection process.

The 22 May 24 report to Council states that a Lochyhill siting “could impact local businesses due to edge of town location” but does not identify this as the key factor for a central location preference which has many education and community benefits.

Extending the school day, even by as little as 20 mins, would have significant operating cost impacts.

The report highlights a number of advantages of the Roysvale site which are summarised as:

• Central location better meets the place-based and strategic context requirements for a new community school, aligning with the NPF4 and Scotland’s Learning Estate Strategy – Connecting People, Places and Learning guidance and principles;
• More cost effective option at a time when the current and future challenges on the Council capital budget are significant;
• Offers educational benefits of a 5-18 campus - with adjacency of existing primary school with benefits of shared management, curriculum and pastoral transition (mainstream and ASN), shared PEF investment and access to extended learning for primary; and
• Benefit of the improvement of the Roysvale land and drainage improvement to improve community use of the green space/playing fields for the future.

There is no evidence that the construction of a new school on the Lochyhill site would encourage houses to be built without significant investment in other areas of infrastructure e.g. roads and services.

Following a thorough review, the council has decided not to pursue further investigations into the alternative Lochyhill site at this time. Several significant challenges were identified, including complex land ownership, lack of access for site investigations, and higher overall costs. These issues make the Lochyhill option impractical at this stage and risk delaying the delivery of the much-needed new school.

SportScotland guidance recommends that secondary schools have access to a synthetic turf area suitable for use as a teaching space. The council would need to determine if a 3G pitch is provided at the school or if access to a 3G pitch can be provided elsewhere within Forres. If there is no other 3G pitch access in Forres, a 3G pitch would be built at the new school location as this would benefit from the ongoing revenue funding provided by Scottish Government.

The proposed school location offers a number of benefits that support local priorities around place-based planning, active travel, and community use. Its central location makes it more accessible for families, encouraging walking and cycling to school and helping to reduce car use. It also creates opportunities to develop a wider community hub that brings local services and residents together in one space. The site’s proximity to the existing primary school supports continuity for pupils and staff and makes the most of the surrounding area’s educational and community potential. The design of the proposal also takes into account the importance of the common good land. Every effort has been made to minimise disruption during construction, so that the park, swing park, footpath and playing fields remain accessible to the public wherever possible. Once construction is complete, the majority of the land will be returned to the community, with improved drainage to support better use of the green space and playing fields in future.

The proposed site has been carefully assessed and selected as the preferred option based on educational, environmental, and community considerations. 

At this stage, there are no alternative sites being developed, and no further investment is planned or justified in exploring other location.

The new school is being designed to meet LEIP (Learning Estate Investment Programme) energy efficiency targets, which focus on low energy use and sustainable design. The school will use non-fossil fuel heating and power systems, helping to reduce carbon emissions and support long-term environmental goals. The design is based on the use of air source heat pumps and the intent is to optimise the use of solar panel installation with the current design including a solar panel (PV) array of approximately 400m², which is expected to generate around 85,000 kWh of renewable electricity each year. This will help to power the school and reduce reliance on the national grid. 

Scottish Government (SG) funding will be available through the Outcomes Based Funding (OBF) model. SG funding will be released as the achievement of agreed outcomes is evidenced.

The new school is planned to be operational in Autumn 2028 with construction due to commence Spring 2026. Pupils will start attending the new school in Autumn 2028

A Special Moray Council meeting was held on 21 January 2025 where a report on the Common Good Consultation was presented.  The Council decided to go ahead with the court application to temporarily use the Common Good land for site setup, a contractor’s compound, and parking for construction traffic during the build and will also ask for approval for the permanent development of the land as a bus drop-off area for the school.  A statutory advertisement will be placed in the local press to inform the local public that the court process has commenced.

The current school roll capacity is 1121 with the current planned new capacity of 1240, an increase of 119 pupils, although this will be reviewed against the project school roll forecast out to 2035 during the design phase.

To understand the traffic and parking patterns in the local area, traffic and parking surveys will be required to inform any future planning application.  

Transportation are a statutory consultee within the standard planning process.

During the construction phase, the appointed contractor will manage traffic carefully to reduce disruption. Traffic to and from the site will be planned to avoid peak times, based on findings from a traffic survey. This survey will help identify busy periods and support safe access for the community throughout construction. 

Once the school is open, there is not expected to be an increase in traffic compared to the current Forres Academy during typical start and end times. In fact, the new site design includes a dedicated bus drop-off area, which should help reduce congestion, particularly in the mornings. 

Currently, school buses stop along Burdsyard Road, which contributes to traffic build-up. The new design aims to improve this by moving bus drop-offs off the main road, making access safer and smoother for all road users. 

The Teir 1 contractor will deconflict site traffic movement from the busy times of the day (start and end of the school day)

Council policy, in terms of free transport, will apply regardless of the chosen option for the future Forres Academy.

The statutory walking distance requirement is three miles for all pupils aged over 8. The two mile rule is however currently the standard for all Moray pupils with the exception of the two Elgin secondary schools where the statutory three miles apply. This was implemented through Committee report several years ago to account for the expanding boundaries of Elgin.

If a pupil has more than two miles to walk to reach Forres Academy, they will be granted transport under the current policy. A pupil can be expected to walk up to two miles to access transport. With the Lochyhill site this would see some residential properties to the south of the town (along the Grantown Road) potentially entitled to council provided transport to the new secondary school.

The final design planning application process will consider the Moray Council Active Travel Strategy 2022-2027 We will continue to have dialogue with our Roads and Transportation colleagues on any future safe travel routes to the new school and the design will meet any future planning obligations with respect to this – managed within the project risk contingency budget. Roads and Transportation are stakeholders on the Project Board and have taken an action to provide detail on the safe active travel routes for primary schools in Forres which will be shared on the FAQs page when available. 

Travel to school data in Moray is mainly monitored through the Living Streets Travel Tracker programme, as well as the Hands Up Scotland Survey (HUSS) done once a year by the Scottish Government. The recent HUSS for Forres Academy demonstrate that the number pupils opting for Active Travel options is significant – the majority pupils who current walk and cycle is not expected to change.

With reference to the concern raised at the PAN consultation public session on the safety of primary school-aged children travelling to Applegrove PS crossing the A940 Grantown Road at the Orchard Road and Mannachie Road junctions it should be noted that the Applegrove PS catchment does not extend to the west of the A940 – that residential area falls within the Pilmuir PS catchment.