The RIBA Stage 3 and Project approval report on Eyemouth Primary School was considered at council yesterday, 5 November, where councillors agreed to progress the project to the next stage.
The report, which was received on 23 October 2026, summarised the RIBA Stage 3 Report for the new Primary School and Early Years and Family Centre, along with the developed proposals, programme, procurement and delivery strategy, cost plan and affordability implications.
At the Special Council meeting on 17 September 2026, Council agreed to proceed with the standalone new build Primary School, Early Years and Family Centre on Coldingham Road as the preferred delivery option, accepting that this must be delivered within existing budgets.
As a result, the Stage 3 work has focused on developing that option into a coordinated design capable of progressing to planning, technical design and procurement.
Next steps
Following approval, officers will now progress the project to RIBA Stage 4. This includes planning and building warrant applications; the next stage of contractor procurement; continue design development; stakeholder engagement; cost management and risk reduction and report any material change in scope, programme, affordability, or delivery risk through the Council’s established governance arrangements.
Council approved a revised project budget of £23.3m excluding VAT which includes demolition works, risk, inflation, fees, and client direct costs. It also agreed to reprioritise and accelerate capital provision across the relevant financial years to meet the additional £8.8m capital requirement. It was noted that this reprioritisation will reduce the Council’s capacity to commence other new capital investment.
Councillor Julie Pirone, SBC’s Executive Member for Education, Youth Development and Lifelong Learning:
“Today marks an important step forward in the Eyemouth Primary School and Early Years and Family Centre project. A significant amount of work has been undertaken by officers, and the report presented today highlights the progress that has been made and the next steps that are required to deliver this project for the children of Eyemouth.”