Infrastructure investment plan 2021-22 to 2025-26: major capital projects progress update – February 2025

Sector: Further Education

Project: Dunfermline Learning Campus (College element)

Business case approved stages: New build college campus in Dunfermline, Fife. Following Scottish Government approval to award the contract in December 2022, the cost of the project was estimated at £131 million with project completion estimated for December 2024 and an operational start date of spring 2025.

Progress at August 2024: The cost of the project is now estimated at £154.5 million, which is an increase from contract award and as previously reported. This is due to the continuation of high inflation in the construction marketplace which has resulted in higher than anticipated costs for the fit-out element of the project, which was a variable element of the construction contract. Fife College has agreed a lump sum fixed price with the contractor, Balfour Beatty Construction Ltd (BBCL) to complete the project. This passes the risk of completing the project within the increased budget to BBCL. The cost for the core and shell element of the build has not increased as this cost was fixed from the outset of the contract with BBCL. The scope of the project has not changed.

Planned completion of the project construction stage has slipped to September 2025 from April 2025, with the new campus now expected to be fully operational by January/February 2026. This is later than the previously reported start of 2025-26 academic year and is due to project delays occurred whilst Fife College considered its options to manage the increase in costs.

Progress at February 2025: The cost of the project remains unchanged since last reported at £154.5 million. The construction phase of the project is on track to be completed by September 2025, with the campus due to be fully operational by January/February 2026.

Contact for public enquiries: email: ameldrum@sfc.ac.uk