£200m will be spent on schools over next 10 years
Long term capital investment
West Lothian Council will invest £200 million in schools over the next ten years after councillors agreed a long- term capital investment programme.
Councillors approved an updated Corporate Asset Management Strategy and Capital Investment Strategy that will see the council invest almost £390 million in West Lothian’s assets over the next decade.
This includes over £265.8 million to be invested in maintaining and improving West Lothian’s property assets, such as £200 million for schools and £6 million for new partnership centres, which will reduce running costs by rationalising buildings.
Other investment includes a £ 72 million planned spend on roads, footpaths and related assets; £33.2 million for vital information and communication technology (ICT) assets; and £17.6 million on maintaining and improving open spaces such as sports facilities, play parks and woodlands
Lawrence Fitzpatrick, Leader of West Lothian Council, said: “I’m delighted that we have approved a long-term capital investment programme that will support the delivery of vital council services, now and in the future.
“It’s essential we invest in our assets to ensure we are able to deliver the services that West Lothian residents rely on.
“This capital budget rightly focuses on schools, with £200 million of planned investment to ensure West Lothian continues to have one of the best school estates in the country, giving our young people a top quality platform for learning.
“It’s essential we invest wisely to support the delivery of vital services, especially at a time when council budgets are being reduced.”
The £ 200 million investment in education infrastructure will include major projects like new primary schools in Broxburn, Bangour, Calderwood and Gavieside; £15.4million to expand nursery places to meet demand; as well as a number of school extensions.
A total of £18.5 million is also being invested in Additional Support Needs (ASN) schools, including £6million for a new Cedarbank School, which will increase specialist provision and support the projected growth in pupils with ASN.
Other investment will include the creation of a £ 1 million Community Property Modernisation to help support communities looking to take responsibility for local facilities.
The road and footpath network will have £26.5 million spent on maintenance and a further £26.5 million invested to replace street lighting and traffic signals, £13.9million to maintain bridges and £5 million for flood prevention at Liggat Syke in Broxburn.
There will be £ 33.2 million spent modernising council assets in terms of technology and £12.9 million will be spent on improvements to sports facilities and functional open spaces with a further £2.6 million spent to replace and renew the equipment in council play areas.