Lenzie Academy - ambitious plans for new £80m school building

Ambitious plans to replace Lenzie Academy with a brand new £80 million school will be discussed this week.
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Councillors are being asked to vote in principle to replace the existing school with a new build – subject to securing external funding to support the project.

The present Academy was built in 1960 and serves pupils from Lenzie, Auchinloch and southern parts of Kirkintilloch.

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However, concerns have been voiced in recent years over the condition of the building.

Councillors Thornton and Polson pictured outside Lenzie AcademyCouncillors Thornton and Polson pictured outside Lenzie Academy
Councillors Thornton and Polson pictured outside Lenzie Academy

The proposal will be included in the final budget plan being put forward by East Dunbartonshire Council’s Conservative/Lib Dem joint administration which will go before all councillors on Thursday, February 24.

It recommends the “in-principle allocation of £80m in the programme to fund a new Lenzie Academy and community facilities, subject to securing of external funding to support the project, the allocation of £3m in year one of the programme to facilitate the early stage work, and instructs officers to progress the project to the point where the outcome of the funding application is determined.”

Joint council leader Andrew Polson said he hoped the new school and associated community facilities could be completed by 2025.

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He added: “I am delighted we are able to approve this commitment for this development, which I hope the whole council will support.

“Lenzie Academy is a major part in our ongoing desire to invest fully in our education asset estate. Parents have been rightly concerned with issues surrounding the existing building and I am sure that staff, parents and pupils, will very much welcome this exciting news.”

Councillor for Lenzie and Kirkintilloch South Ward, Sandra Thornton (Con) said: "Lenzie Academy has always been high on my list of priorities. I now hope to play a major part in securing the necessary external funding and I’m sure all parents, residents and children will be keen to join with me and support this exciting project.

"We hope many of Lenzie’s pupils, and those still to come, can look forward to learning in a state-of-the-art building.”