Chapelpark School Receives National Recognition

The newly refurbished Chapelpark school in Forfar has received national recognition at an awards ceremony in Glasgow.

The transformative community project, which has re-created the former school and landmark buildings into modern council houses known now as Academy Court, was a winner at The 2018 20th Anniversary SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration.

Accepting the award on behalf of Angus Council was Housing Service Leader, John Morrow.

The Angus team were one of five category winners who were recognised at the event and congratulated by the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Communities, Aileen Campbell MSP.


The awards hailed Chapelpark: A New Beginning – the council-led project to convert vacant, historically significant B-Listed school buildings and their site into affordable housing. Judges praised the great regeneration rationale, as well as the strong team mentality and multi-discipline co-ordination behind the community project. They said it was an outstanding project and expressed a desire to hold it up as an example for other projects.

Aileen Campbell MSP, said: "The shortlisted applications are an inspiration and testament to what is possible when communities are empowered and proactive in shaping their own futures. The SURF Awards remain an outstanding platform for identifying and showcasing successful community regeneration across Scotland."