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Riverbank School: Council ‘confident’ new Tillydrone primary will be built by 2024 as parents grow worried about delays

The abandoned Tillydrone school site. Image: Ben Hendry/DC Thomson
The abandoned Tillydrone school site. Image: Ben Hendry/DC Thomson

An Aberdeen councillor has asked for reassurance that the new Riverbank School will be built by its target date after work was paused amid a cash crisis.

Construction at the Tillydrone site was stopped in July so Aberdeen City Council could try and fight rising costs.

The price-tag for the replacement building rocketed to £36.2 million – almost £10m more than originally planned.

Project tenders due next month

The council’s finance committee has now received an update on the school’s progress.

It was confirmed that the contract for the second stage of the project has been put out to tender.

An artist’s impression of the proposed replacement Riverbank School in Tillydrone. Image: Aberdeen City Council

Members were told that they were initially due back before Christmas but an extension was requested.

The tenders are now due by the end of January but officers have said they are still confident that the school will be erected by summer 2024.

Councillor calls for commitment to school plans

Labour councillor Ross Grant, whose children attend Riverbank, said the update was “no surprise”.

But he believed it would cause “discomfort” for parents and residents in the area.

He asked for reassurance from officers that the summer 2024 opening date was still viable.

Labour councillor Ross Grant outside Riverbank School in Aberdeen in 2015. Picture by Kath Flannery/DCT Media.
Labour councillor Ross Grant outside Riverbank School in Aberdeen. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

Mr Grant also wanted a public engagement plan to be made for the Riverbank and St Peter’s RC school communities to keep them updated on any progress.

Council engagement ‘not consistent enough’

He revealed he was “sceptical” when the 2024 completion date was first announced, but remains “enormously hopeful”.

He told the committee that Tillydrone residents are “concerned” that the proposed date may not be met.

Foundations have been laid at the site of the new Riverside School in Tillydrone. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

“If we are saying we are bullish and think that we can deliver by summer 2024 then we should be reaffirming that to the local community, because we owe it to them to do that,” Mr Grant said.

“I think there is a legitimate concern by the community that engagement is not consistent enough.”

New Riverbank School was due to open this year

Concrete foundations have already been laid at the new Riverbank Primary School site.

Plans for the facility were unanimously approved back in June 2020 and the school was initially expected to open this year.

It will have capacity for 650 pupils and 100 nursery-aged youngsters.

Once the move to the new Riverbank School is complete, the existing building will be refurbished and used by St Peter’s RC Primary.

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