Former St Andrew's School in Inverurie due to be knocked down for new development
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The former St Andrew’s School in Inverurie could be knocked down later this year to make way for a new development.
A building warrant recently submitted to Aberdeenshire Council stated that it would cost £50,000 to demolish the old facility.
Pupils and staff moved from the former St Andrew’s Gardens site to a new state-of-the-art school within the £55 million Inverurie Community Campus in October 2020.
But the vacant building has lain empty ever since.
The special school teaches children aged between three and 18 years with additional support needs.
Following the relocation to the campus, youngsters at St Andrew’s now have access to their own sensory rooms, a sensory garden, soft play, hydrotherapy pool and therapy spaces.
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council confirmed the demolition was scheduled for later this year.
The site would then be put on the market for potential buyers to snap up and redevelop.
He said: “Subject to obtaining the necessary permissions, it would be our intention to demolish the building in the autumn.
“It is currently the intention that the vacant site would be marketed for development opportunities.”
Aberdeenshire Council first unveiled its plan to merge the school with the replacement Inverurie Academy back in 2016.
But, the proposal was met with some concern from parents who worried that the move would put their children’s education at risk.
One parent, Joanne Jamieson, even started a petition in a bid to save the town school which gathered around 3000 signatures.
The following year, chairwoman of the parent council Jane Keenan made a passionate plea to councillors to retain the school.
She asked Aberdeenshire Council to consider refurbishing the school or build a new facility on the site instead.
Ms Keenan even claimed that the plan to relocate the school was an “injustice” to parents and pupils.
However, despite these calls the local authority pressed ahead with the merger after councillors approved the plan in 2017.
Officers argued that the move would “address existing and future needs” of pupils attending St Andrew’s School.
They also believed the new facility would give youngsters a better learning experience while allowing them to mingle with academy pupils.
Construction work on the new Inverurie Community Campus was marked with a sod cutting ceremony led by former Provost Bill Howatson in May 2018.
