Education / U-turn on new Brae school would be costly ’embarrassment’, councillor warns
A WARNING has been sounded that if councillors were to ultimately decide against building a new Brae school it would be a “complete embarrassment” which would come at considerable cost.
Stephen Leask, who represents Lerwick North and Bressay, said it would be “incredibly foolish” to make a U-turn at this stage.
Preparatory, pre-construction work continues to take place on the project ahead of a full business case going in front of councillors for final approval, which is expected in October next year.
In January 2024 councillors agreed to move the project to a full business case, and it was estimated that it could cost £4.5 million to reach this stage.
Recent estimated timescales suggest, subject to the necessary approvals and go-ahead, construction work could commence in late 2026 – with the school potentially opening its doors to pupils in August 2028.
The demolition of the former school, which is the only secondary in the North Mainland but has been described as no longer fit for purpose, could then be completed in 2029.
The new school currently has an estimated price tag of £42.5 million, which includes the £4.5 million required to reach the full business case stage.
The Scottish Government has already committed to providing half of the funding, although this will come over a 25-year period.
At a meeting of the full council on Wednesday, development committee chairman and Lerwick South member Dennis Leask questioned the estimated timeline.
He said it appeared “optimistic”, especially given that construction is slated to start in November 2026 – only a month after the full business case potentially being signed off.
Dennis Leask also asked if the SIC would be liable for cost incurred prior to the full business case being approved.
SIC chief executive Maggie Sandison said the decision has already been made regarding progressing to the full business case stage, which inevitably brings costs.
“You’ve made a decision to proceed to full business case, which does obviously incur some costs for the organisation, but you still have the choice in October 2026 whether or not you proceed for the full project,” she said.
Sandison added that there is a “clear separation” in terms of costs incurred to get to full business case, and the cost of implementing the business case.
Stephen Leask meanwhile warned against performing what he called a U-turn on the project and asked anyone with doubts to “raise their heads above the parapet”.
“I feel that we’re in a stage where if we ever did a U-turn on any decision that we’ve made in the past, it’d be at considerable cost to the council,” he said, adding that there would also be “reputational damage” while being a “complete embarrassment for the council”.
The councillor said he wished to see the project see continue “till we get the grants from the Scottish Government to actually see it being built”.
Speaking after the meeting, SIC leader Emma Macdonald – whose Shetland North ward includes Brae – said councillors will be provided with all the required information to make a decision on the full business case in October.
She said it comes as “no surprise” that she has always has been supportive of a new school, and the need for investment in the school estate in the area – as are fellow ward councillors Andrea Manson and Andrew Hall.
“The Brae school serves a wide catchment area and is important to the future of many families so I am hoping we see a business case come forward that all the council can get behind and support but I appreciate it will be a decision for the full council to make at the appropriate time,” Macdonald said.
Earlier this year Robertson Construction Group was announced as the preferred main contractor for the construction.
Initial designs have already been released, and some public consultation events have been held.
The new school could be built where the existing grass pitch sits, and there is a plan to demolish the old building.
A pitch could be reinstated in the area where existing buildings would be demolished.
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