Delays to Dumfries Academy refurbishment leave parents concerned
Contractor withdrawal pushes schedule back
Parents are becoming increasingly worried over ongoing delays to the Dumfries Academy refurbishment after the building contractor pulled out of the project earlier this year.
Key contractor Morgan Sindall walked out on the long-delayed refurbishment of the school in April following a disagreement with council chiefs over the terms of the contract.
The £32.6 million scheme, which will see Dumfries Academy refurbished with a new PE block, and Loreburn Primary pupils and staff relocated into the school’s Minerva building, has already faced a series of setbacks since it was first approved back in 2024.
It now looks likely that the work won’t be completed until late 2029 – or early 2030.
READ MORE: Nithsdale fights back against seagull menace with lasers
Councillors raised serious concerns at Dumfries and Galloway Council’s economy and infrastructure committee on Tuesday.
North West Dumfries Councillor Paula Stevenson insisted that families were growing increasingly frustrated by the lack of clarity over when the work will actually happen.
She said: “I’ve spoken to parents, pupils…the whole community of Dumfries Academy are really at their wits’ end because they don’t have the assurance as a council we’re moving this forward.
“And I have to say it certainly feels that way for me.”
Lochar Councillor Linda Dorward echoed those concerns, telling the committee members had “major concerns” about the project. She said: “It’s way behind schedule. All of us in Dumfries have constituents who attend the school, and they have concerns about the state of the school and infrastructure, and also it’s holding up some other planning projects as well.”
READ MORE: Questions raised on delays to Newton Stewart flood protection scheme
Council officers gave an update on the project’s progress at the meeting, confirming that Hub South West’s contractor, Morgan Sindall, told the council it was withdrawing from the school refurbishment.
Mo Agoun, the council’s property, estates and programmes manager, said: “The council had a contract with Hub South West and Morgan Sindall to deliver the project, and contractually there are elements that need to be met – those elements didn’t meet, and there were some disagreements commercially that we couldn’t agree to.
“That’s why the contractor has withdrawn their input.”
Following an interview process in June, Morrison Construction Scotland was appointed as the replacement contractor.
READ MORE: Housing crisis warning in Dumfries and Galloway despite £95 million investment plan
Officers say Morrison is now working towards submitting a report in October, with construction expected to begin towards the end of 2027 and complete in late 2029 or early 2030 — some years later than originally planned.
Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Greatest Hits Radio app.