Morrison Construction has completed building work on a new campus in Cumnock.

The Barony Campus in is now officially open to the young people of The Robert Burns Academy.

Young people who previously attended Auchinleck and Cumnock Academies and the secondary Supported Learning Centre, began attending their new school on Monday 26 October.

Councillor Douglas Reid said: "The excellence of the Barony Campus reflects the Council’s ambition to provide state of the art educational facilities for all and I am so proud that the young people of The Robert Burns Academy are now able to enjoy their new school.

"That a project of this size and complexity was delivered with just a three month delay, arising from lockdown, is credit to Morrison Construction and the Council's project delivery team, led by Depute Chief Executive, Alex McPhee. This team has literally been working day and night, in challenging conditions, to ensure that the school was ready to welcome our young people and I would like to thank them on behalf of the Council.


"I would also like to thank our local contractors who worked on site and the contractors that employed local people during the build process; these include Character Joinery, Johnston Joiners, D&D Decorators, MacGregor Flooring, Castle Building Services, Malcolm Group and WVB.

"Part of the Council's team are still on site and are now working to ensure that Lochnorris Primary School and Supported Learning Centre, Cherry Trees Early Childhood Centre and Hillside School will be ready to open on Wednesday 18 November.

"I have to be honest; this isn't how we envisaged the official opening of The Robert Burns Academy. We wanted to join with parents, carers and the local community to share the excitement and the pride we feel towards the facility and our young people. As soon as we are able, we will hold a celebration event worthy of this incredible campus."