Doon Valley campus work delayed by one month to May 2027

Completion is expected in December 2029, following changes to the project’s construction timetable.

East Ayrshire Council has extended the deadline for contractors to submit tenders for the development, meaning construction work is now anticipated to begin around May 2027—a month later than originally planned.

The latest East Ayrshire Performs report provides an updated programme for the extension and refurbishment of the campus.

It states that the original deadline for tender submissions was at the end of October.

Work is hoped to be completed by 2029. (Image: Newsquest)

That has been extended until the end of November following a request from one of the contractors bidding for the work.

The revised timetable means construction is now expected to begin in May 2027, with completion anticipated in December 2029.

However, both dates remain subject to confirmation of the successful contractor’s proposed construction programme.

During cabinet, councillor Barry Douglas questioned why the extension was sought and whether that suggested that the development was facing difficulties.

He asked: “Are we then concerned about the the viability of this project going forward?”

Depute chief executive David Mitchell explained that one potential bidder had already withdrawn from the tendering process.

He said that there wasn’t massive expression of interest in the contract even prior to the withdrawal.

He continued: “If we had then declined to allow the extension of time as requested, we run the risk of losing another one.

“Then you’ve got a less competitive process which will usually deliver an even higher price.”

Mr Mitchell said allowing more time was considered appropriate given the scale and importance of the project.

The council’s report also warns that external financial pressures remain a risk until the market prices submitted by contractors are known.

It pointed out that construction projects can experience changes in material, labour and supply costs between the preparation of initial budget estimates and the receipt of final tenders.

For Doon Valley Community Campus, the council has maintained a total project budget of £33.5 million in its latest capital monitoring figures.

At the end of the second quarter, cumulative expenditure of £799,000 was recorded against the project.

The current financial year’s allocation has been reduced from £2.831 million to £2 million, with £831,000 moved into future years.

The adjustment was made to reflect the delays in the revised programme.

Doon Valley Community Campus represents one of the largest individual projects within the council’s wider learning estate programme.

The next major milestone will be the return and assessment of tender submissions.

That process will help establish whether the planned development can be delivered within the existing £33.5 million budget.

If tender prices exceed the available funding, the council would have to consider how to address the difference before awarding a contract.