Forres Academy will be built on Roysvale playing field following Moray Council’s decision
A Moray town in dire need of a new secondary school has taken another step towards its construction.
The detailed design phase of the Forres Academy project has started, with the aim of delivering a modern, sustainable learning environment by Autumn 2028.
Chairwoman of the Education, Children’s and Leisure Services Committee, Councillor Kathleen Robertson (Forres, Conservative), is confident that local education will benefit.
She said: “It’s good to see the project coming to life as the design stage kicks off, with the decision to focus on Applegrove/Roysvale Park keeping things on track.
“While there are differing views in the community, it’s vital that we continue to make progress for the benefit of our young people and the wider area.
“Progressing into the design phase is a really exciting step in this major development for Forres, and I look forward to seeing the project continue to move forward over the coming months.”
The planning process is underway, with the first public stages - consultations on the pre-planning application notice - to take place towards the end of June.
Planning will be around the preferred site for the school at Applegrove/Roysvale Park, to “ensure the project stays on track to secure essential Scottish Government funding while avoiding delays or increased costs due to inflation”, according to a Moray Council spokesperson.
He added: “Following a review, the local authority has decided not to pursue further investigations into the alternative Lochyhill site at this time.
“Several challenges were identified, including complex land ownership, lack of access for site investigations, and higher overall costs, making the option impractical.”
Full details on the future Forres Academy site options can be found on Moray Council’s website at http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_151261.html
