Highland Council Appoints Four Contractors for £2.1bn Infrastructure Overhaul

Highland Council has selected four main contractors to spearhead the initial phase of its ambitious £2.1 billion Highland Investment Plan (HIP). This 20-year capital programme aims to modernise public infrastructure across the region, with the first tranche of projects focusing on creating community hubs.

Key Takeaways

Four contractors – Morgan Sindall, Morrison Construction, Robertson Group, and Ogilvie Construction – have been appointed.
The projects are part of the first phase of the £2.1bn Highland Investment Plan (HIP).
The initial projects include schools, offices, depots, and partner facilities combined into community hubs.
Highland Council is the client, with hub North Scotland acting as the delivery partner.

Major Infrastructure Investment Underway

The appointed contractors will deliver seven key projects spanning from Thurso to Inverness. These schemes are the first to reach the preferred contractor stage under the council’s Points of Delivery (PoDs) programme. This initiative consolidates various public facilities into integrated community hubs, enhancing local services and infrastructure.

Project Allocations

The initial projects and their awarded contractors are:

Morgan Sindall: Beauly Primary PoD and Charleston Academy PoD.
Robertson Group: Dingwall Primary PoD (including St Clements School) and Tornagrain Primary PoD.
Morrison Construction: Fortrose Academy PoD and Thurso PoD.
Ogilvie Construction: Inverness High School PoD.

Funding and Delivery

The HIP will be financed through a combination of capital investment and a dedicated annual allocation equivalent to 2% of ring-fenced council tax revenue. The council has committed £750 million for investment over the next five years as part of the broader £2.1 billion programme. The procurement route, while not explicitly detailed, suggests an early contractor engagement process, likely a two-stage approach under the hub North Scotland framework. This allows for early involvement in consultation, design development, and pre-planning activities.

Stakeholder Reactions

Council leader Raymond Bremner hailed the appointments as a “major milestone” that will drive long-term improvements to schools and community facilities. Council convener Bill Lobban indicated that the next steps involve further community engagement and detailed design. Glynis Sinclair, chair of the housing and property committee, highlighted the programme’s potential to support new homes and employment opportunities, including graduate and apprenticeship roles. Richard Park, chief executive of hub North Scotland, confirmed that design and delivery efforts are already in progress.

Contractors expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration. Gordon Williamson, managing director for Morrison Construction Building Highland, stated their commitment to developing plans for two new schools. Stuart Parker, managing director of Morgan Sindall Construction in Scotland, noted the appointments reflect the strength of their Inverness-based team. Elliot Robertson, CEO of Robertson Construction Group, confirmed their team’s collaboration on the Dingwall and Tornagrain projects, while Martin Poole, preconstruction director at Ogilvie Construction, outlined their role in delivering the Inverness High School building.