The next stage of community engagement for the new Brae High School will get underway later this month, following the recent publication of a ‘Proposal of Application’ Notice.
The notice formally begins a minimum 12-week consultation period before a planning application is lodged. During this period, members of the public and any interested parties will have a chance to comment on the latest design proposals for the buildings and site layout. This event follows previous engagement events in 2024 and various stakeholder comments received since.
A drop-in consultation event will take place at the current Brae High School on Wednesday 24 June between 3.30pm and 7.30pm. From this date, comments on the prospective development can also be made until Friday 14 August at https://braecampus-consultation.squarespace.com.
The consultations during this pre-application period will be led by a team from Ryder Architecture. Feedback received during these events are not representations to the Council’s Planning Service – there will be an opportunity to do so once a formal Planning Application is submitted.
This project is part of the North Schools Programme, a groundbreaking partnership between five local authorities – Shetland Islands Council, Orkney Islands Council, Argyll and Bute Council, Moray Council and Aberdeen City Council – to work together to deliver new learning estate. This collaboration is expected to deliver substantial financial, economic, and social impact benefits.
In October 2023, the Brae Campus was identified as a project to be supported through Phase Three of the Scottish Government’s £2 billion Learning Estate Investment Programme.
Shetland Islands Council is proposing to build a new school in Brae, incorporating early years, primary, secondary and enhanced learning provision, plus car parking and external landscaped spaces within the boundary of the existing school site.
In January 2024, Shetland Islands Council approved an Outline Business Case for the Brae Campus. At that time, the project had an estimated cost of approximately £42.5m, subject to the approval of a Full Business Case, expected in early 2027.
Councillor Davie Sandison, Chair of the Council’s Education and Families Committee said: “The project team continue to progress the considerable work for a new all-through high school in Brae. Following previous community engagement events, we are very keen to ensure that parents, pupils and the wider community comment on the latest design proposals, before planning applications are submitted.
“I’d urge anyone who has a view on the new school to drop along to the proposed consultation event on Wednesday 24 June, or to share their comments online afterwards."