By Paul Behan

Copyright dailyrecord

A multi-million pound shortfall has been identified in the cost of building the new Girvan Primary School. Ayrshire Live can reveal that the current project cost is £35,506,781 – but council papers have revealed a deficit of more than £3.4m towards it. The report, due to be presented to members of South Ayrshire Council’s Cabinet (Education) on Tuesday, show that the current allocation to the project, via the Council’s approved General Services Capital Programme- is only £32,044,178. It means there’s a £3,462,603 black hole in the current project funding which needs to be filled. Ayrshire Live previously told how the project is expected to deliver a new 16-classroom primary school with a dedicated Additional Support Needs base and separate early years centre. The wider project involves the demolition of the existing school building and replacing it with the new one. A completion date of January 2027 had previously been set. However, the handover is not expected to take place until late February 2027. Planning approval was granted earlier this year. Council papers said: “The current project costs including all construction related costs, development and professional fees and client direct costs is £35,506,781. “The current allowance within the Council’s approved General Services Capital Programme is £32,044,178. Approval is therefore sought to increase the current allowance by £3,462,603 to meet the shortfall and proceed to formal financial close for the project.” The papers also say that “robust scrutiny” of the priced work packages has taken place by both officers and Currie and Brown – who are acting as Project Manager and Quantity Surveyor on behalf of the Council to address the “budgetary challenges.” The report continues: “The current approved funding for the project is £32,044,178. If the project were to proceed, an additional £3,462,603 would be required to meet the shortfall. It is proposed that this budgetary realignment will form part of a wider report seeking approval for a revised capital programme.” The development, which is expected to extend to 2.4 ha, will see the new primary school building and an early years building erected on the northern half of the existing primary school site. Also part of the wider development is the introduction of a seven-a-side sports pitch in the southeast corner of the site. Car parking is to be in the southwest of the site and there will be various external play areas on the north, east and west sides. The replacement school will have the same capacity as the current school. Following completion of the two buildings the current school building will then be demolished. South Ayrshire Council’s Cabinet (Education) will meet on Tuesday, September 23 to discuss the financial shortfall. And they will be recommended to approve a “revised funding package” for the project. The report adds: “If the recommendations are approved by Members, the Depute Chief Executive and Director of Housing, Operations and Development will ensure that all necessary steps are taken to ensure full implementation of the decision.”