Former school site confirmed as location for new childcare centre

The site of the former Forfar Academy in Taylor Street has been confirmed as the location for a new purpose-built early learning and childcare centre.

The location was agreed by councillors at a recent meeting with early years and estates officers.

The centre, which will cater for up to 155 children at a time, is one of two being built in Angus.

The other, at Carnoustie, will be constructed at Pitskelly Park and will provide for up to 205 children.

Both centres are going ahead, thanks to £5.2 million of Scottish Government funding.

The project will go out to tender to construction firms this summer.

It is anticipated that the Carnoustie centre will be completed by late 2019, with the Forfar campus opening by mid-2020.

Derek Wann, Angus Council’s vice-convener of children and learning, said: “This is a fantastic addition to our Early Years Learning estate and is an important step in offering the service for all our young people.

“I look forward to this project getting underway and thereafter opening.”

Forfar Conservative councillor Braden Davy said: “The expansion of early years provision, and the use of an existing vacant site for provide this, will be a welcome addition to our town

“Officers have assessed many different sites, but due to the tight timeline required by the government some sites were not deliverable.

“This is a great investment in our town to provide education.”

The Taylor Street building has been empty since last summer when pupils and staff moved to the £39 million Forfar community campus.