Morgan Sindall Construction is progressing work on the new £21 million Broadford Primary School and community campus on the Isle of Skye, with foundation works now getting underway.
The primary school forms part of an almost £50 million investment by The Highland Council, supporting the delivery of new and improved facilities across the Isle of Skye.
The 2,541m² campus will provide a new primary school, nursery and community facilities for Broadford and the wider South Skye area.
Construction began in May 2026, with the project due to complete in winter 2027.
The project has progressed through site compound set-up, commencement of phased utility diversions, bulk excavation and a cut-and-fill exercise, with foundation works now getting underway.
The new campus will include six primary classrooms and two nursery classrooms, alongside a library, canteen and dining room and games hall. It will also provide a Highland Council Service Point and High Life Highland library, creating a central hub for learning and community activity in Broadford.
The team has adapted its approach to address the logistical challenges of building on the island, where access to accommodation, labour and materials can be constrained, particularly during the summer months.
Working with the council and design team, the project moved from a standard timber frame to a closed-panel timber kit, with the more finished factory-produced panels requiring less work on site and helping to reduce programme time and the number of people needed on site. The approach also brings safety benefits, reducing the amount of work at height, while enhancing quality by completing more of the build in controlled factory conditions.
The campus is being built to Passivhaus standard and will feature solar PV panels, while its orientation has been designed to maximise passive solar performance, supporting the council's ambitions for low-carbon, future-proofed learning environments.
The development is also creating opportunities locally, with a Trainee Quantity Surveyor recruited to the team and local contractors and subcontractors already engaged on site.
Morgan Sindall Construction is also working with the existing Broadford Primary School, located directly opposite the site, with pupil and school site visits planned in the coming months.
Students from Plockton High School are also due to take part in Morgan Sindall Construction's annual World of Work Tasters event at Fort George later this month.
Ian MacDonald, Senior Operations Manager at Morgan Sindall Construction in Scotland, said: “Reaching the foundation stage brings us another step closer to providing a new learning and community facility for Broadford and the wider South Skye area.
“Broadford Primary School is an important part of the wider investment being made in Skye, and we are pleased to be working alongside The Highland Council to deliver a facility that will benefit the community.
“Building on the island comes with unique logistical challenges, so adapting our approach has been an important part of keeping the project moving. At the same time, we are focused on creating opportunities for local people and businesses and building strong relationships with the community as the project progresses.”
Chair of Highland Council’s education committee, Cllr John Finlayson, said: “I am delighted to see contractors on site and work progressing on a project which is going to bring enormous benefits for young people and the wider community of Broadford and south Skye. It’s exciting to see the fantastic educational and sporting facilities taking shape.
“I am pleased to see contractors taking a flexible and sympathetic approach to the local community and environment during the building phase and it is encouraging to see that job opportunities are also being created.
“With another new school soon to get underway in Dunvegan, and several other important infrastructure improvements taking shape on the island, including the development of the sports pitch beside the new school in Broadford, it’s an exciting time in Skye.
“Strong and productive partnerships involving council, local members, Sport Scotland, community and government have been key to unlocking investment and driving positive change that will support people of all ages and future generations.”
