Posted on 30 Apr 2008

'Topping Out' ceremony marks completion of £16 million primary schools' campus

Craigmillar in Edinburgh is today (Wednesday 30 April) celebrating a significant milestone in its regeneration with the completion of a new £16m primary schools' joint campus at Wauchope Square.

A 'Topping Out' ceremony will mark the conclusion of the structural phase of the development which brings together St. Francis and Niddrie Mill primary schools on one site.

With a joint school roll of around 700 children, the new campus will be one of the largest and most impressive sites in the city and a major progression in the 15-year regeneration of Craigmillar led by PARC, a joint venture between The City of Edinburgh Council, The EDI Group and the local community, and supported by the Scottish Executive.

Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, Chair of PARC and Councillor Marilyne MacLaren, Convener for Education, Children and Families will be joined at the Topping Out ceremony by Cardinal Keith O'Brien of the Scottish Catholic Church. Also attending will be the head teachers and pupils from St. Francis and Niddrie Mill schools, representatives from the local community and companies involved in the construction of the project.

Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, Chair of PARC said: "Today's ceremony marks a significant landmark in the regeneration of Craigmillar. The new schools' campus puts education at the heart of the regeneration process and this impressive development is destined to become an integral part of the Craigmillar community."

Councillor Marilyne MacLaren, Convener for Education, Children and Families said: “This is a very exciting day for both school communities as I know they can’t wait to move into this fantastic new building. I have been hugely impressed with the design aspects of this flagship school. It is undoubtedly a school fit for the 21st Century and will provide a stunning landmark for generations to come."

The new £16m campus at Wauchope Square will be fully completed, following fit-out, on time and on budget in early summer 2008 and will be handed over to The City of Edinburgh Council ready for the new term in August.

Designed to a high specification by award-winning architects Elder and Cannon, The campus is set around an eye-catching, horseshoe shaped central building and will offer a wide range of classrooms, art and technology facilities, a library, computer suite and assembly hall - plus an outdoor play ground and all-weather sports pitches shared by both schools.

Innovations include an external teaching garden and a removable partition between the two sports halls to create a major double sized venue for sports, drama and community uses.

PARC is a joint venture company which brings developers The EDI Group and The City of Edinburgh Council together with groups and representatives from the local Craigmillar community.

PARC is spearheading the regeneration of Craigmillar, involving a total investment of around £200 million. For Craigmillar, PARC wants to achieve:

 Quality, affordable new homes promoted and sold under the ParcLife name

 New primary schools - including a joint primary schools campus at The Square

 A new community high school and library located in the town centre

 A new, revitalised town centre providing some 300,000 sq ft of space for commercial and retail development

 A network of public parks bringing together 150 acres of green space

 More local job and career opportunities

 Improved learning and leisure facilities for young people

 Better transport linkages and traffic calming measures

For further information on ParcLife, please call 0845 220 5000, email parclife@rettie.co.uk or visit www.parclife.co.uk.