Edinburgh PPP schools update delayed

Edinburgh pupils at the defective PPP schools will have to wait until the end of next week to find out when they might be able to return.

Seventeen schools were closed earlier this month after structural faults were found in schools built only 10 years ago using a public private partnership (PPP).

Children at all affected schools have been relocated to neighbouring schools and other spaces.

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Edinburgh City Council said it was “disappointed” that the Edinburgh Schools Partnership (ESP), the private consortium who own and run the schools, had not yet released the survey results.

The city’s chief executive Andrew Kerr said: “We have been in constant dialogue with the Edinburgh Schools Partnership, and they are aware of our concerns.  It is important that we have clear information regarding the condition of these schools, and when they will be safe to reopen.

“I know that parents, teachers and pupils will share my frustration at this delay. The safety of our children is our number one priority and we all want our schools to reopen safely, as soon as possible.

“We are doing everything we can so ESP can provide the Council with the information which will allow us to make a decision regarding the next steps.”

Construction issues were blamed for the faults, but architects including Malcolm Fraser have since said corners were cut by the private consortium to keep costs down.

The Labour-led council signed the original PPP contract in 2001 with Amey and Miller Construction, partially funded by the Bank of Scotland and the European Investment Bank.

It will cost the council at least £540m over a 30 year period.

The schools were closed on Monday 11 April affecting 7,600 primary and secondary pupils and 740 nursery pupils.