Transformation of former school further delayed

PROGRESS on the transformation of the former Forfar Academy building has been further delayed.

The £5.6 million project, which is now a year behind schedule, involves the conversion of the main B-listed building, nursery annexe and playground of t he imposing building in Academy Street i nto 29 affordable council homes for social rent.

They comprise 18 onebedroom flats, six two-bedroom flats, one three-bedroom flat and four five-bedroom townhouses at an average cost of £193,000.

The l ocal authority i s financing the project with a £1.6m subsidy provided by the Scottish Government.

The site was later home to Chapelpark Primary School which closed its doors for the last time as part of the Forfar primary schools project, with the catchment area split between the new Strathmore and Whitehills primaries.

Despite attempts to sell the 200-year-old Chapelpark building, the local authority eventually revealed its plans for conversion and new-build development.

The main building i s being converted i nto 12 one-bed and four two-bed flats, with a central access created for the first time in the façade of the B-listed school.

Commenting on the latest delay, a council spokesman said: “The transformation of the B-listed school building into 29 high quality affordable homes for social rent is taking longer than expected due to a combination of factors.

“Additional engineering alterations were required to the existing buildings when the full extent of structural integrity issues emerged once work had started and external works have been delayed due to poor weather.”