St Peter’s project in progress

Following agreement at Tuesday’s meeting of the Full Council, a tendering exercise will be carried out for the work involved in surveying the Garson West site, and in developing initial designs for the replacement St Peter’s House in Stromness.

Caroline Sinclair, head of service with Orkney Health and Care, said: “We hope that the initial designs will be drawn up by early next year. The design work will enable detailed costings to be made for the project. These will be reported to a meeting of the policy and resources committee in the spring of 2015 so that the project can be included in the council’s capital programme.”

Subject to council approval for the capital programme, a planning application is also expected to be submitted in the spring of next year.

The project will be led by Ian Rushbrook, who was projects manager for the council’s schools investment programme.