BREAKING: Planning bid lodged for a new Nairn Academy – with a 10-month delay
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Nairn residents will now have to wait until August 2026 for a new Nairn Academy to be built after plans for a replacement secondary school were lodged with Highland Council.
The application includes the blueprint for a new school building, a car park, outdoor sports facilities and demolition of the old Nairn Academy.
• Full details of the application can be found here, by entering the code 23/05756/FUL in the search space.
If approved by council planning officials, the project would also see the changing pavilion, synthetic pitch and grass rugby pitch retained from the original site.
Documents submitted include drawings of the site which have never been seen before, with sketches of detailed plans for facilities, classrooms and public spaces.
While the step forward will be welcomed by parents, pupils and teachers, the plans also revealed a delay to the project with the opening date for the multi-purpose school to be put back by 10 months.
A previous deadline of October 2025 was set by council officials back in September last year, but was viewed by some at a public consultation as overly ambitious.
The consultation came amid ongoing concerns about construction costs, energy prices and inflation.
Those who attended were talked through Highland Council’s vision for a modern, attractive and energy-efficient alternative to the badly aged current premises
The new application was announced on the Highland Council’s website late this afternoon
A statement read: “A planning application has been submitted for a replacement secondary school, car parking, sports pitches and demolition of the existing Nairn Academy.
“Balfour Beatty has been appointed as the design and build contractor and Reach And Hall Architects are the Council’s agents working in conjunction with the Council’s in-house property teams to deliver the project.
“The new building is expected to be in operation from August 2026 with the demolition of the existing building and external works to follow.”
Full details of the planning application can be found here by entering the code 23/05756/FUL in the search where public comments can be made.
