Loanhead Centre

Midlothian is expected to be the fastest growing area in Scotland over the next 25 years. As part of their strategy to expand their schools estate, Midlothian Council redeveloped an existing leisure facility site to create the 'Loanhead Centre'; providing the new Paradykes Primary School and early years facility, as well as a public library, medical centre, and refurbished leisure facilities.

Built by Morrison Construction, the Loanhead Centre was the first project to be developed in partnership with Scottish Futures Trust, Midlothian Council and NHS Lothian through the Integrated Joint Board.

The project involved construction of a new 2-storey primary school and community library adjoining the existing leisure centre. The existing building was fully refurbished, as well as being reconfigured and extended to incorporate a 2-storey medical centre.

The new school building is of steel frame structure, incorporating precast slab 'slimfloor' construction, creating a flat soffit and adaptable floorplate, whilst the medical centre is of timber frame construction, providing a cost and carbon effective solution.

The design was developed to allow the existing leisure centre to remain operational for as long as possible during the works, to minimise disruption to the community.