Published on:
21
August 2025
The Council approved the Wellbeing Hub and Lochies School’s Full Business Case at a meeting earlier today, giving the green light to begin full construction of one of the most ambitious community projects in its history.
The state-of-the-art campus is set to transform health, wellbeing, education, and community services across the county.
Designed as a destination that the whole community can take pride in, the Hub and School will bring together leisure, education, and support services under one roof, alongside a vibrant mix of indoor and outdoor spaces for activity, relaxation, and social connection.
The development, due for completion in early autumn 2027, will be located just a mile west of Alloa town centre at the Pavilions. Enhanced active travel and public transport provision from Alloa bus stance is also planned for the opening of the facility.
Facilities will include:
• Swimming pools, fitness suites, games hall, soft play and wellbeing park.
• Modern classrooms and specialist facilities for Lochies School pupils.
• Community spaces, café, community courtyard and flexible rooms for social prescribing, learning, and cultural activities.
The new Lochies School will provide state of the art facilities for learners with severe and complex needs. The sector leading school development has been granted 50% of the costs through the Scottish Government Learning Estate Investment Programme.
The Wellbeing Hub and Lochies School will also be one of the first large-scale leisure and education campus in Scotland built to Passivhaus Standards. This cutting-edge sustainability approach will slash energy use, lower carbon emissions, and ensure exceptional comfort year-round, advancing the Council’s ambition to achieve Net Zero by 2040.
The Wellbeing Hub will deliver a range of community benefits and economic impact. The hub is expected to attract 275,000 annual visitors, generating £2.14 million in social value each year, with 36 permanent full-time jobs and up to 100 casual roles expected to be created.
Councillor Graham Lindsay, spokesperson for People, said: “People in Clackmannanshire deserve the very best, and this project will deliver that.
“Getting the green light today means we can now get on with building something really special for our community.
“The Wellbeing Hub and Lochies School will be for everyone – a place where families can enjoy time together, where pupils will have the very best learning environment, and where people of all ages can feel welcome, supported, and connected.
“This is an investment in the health and happiness of local people now and in the future.”
Council leader, Councillor Ellen Forson said: “I’m delighted we can now move forward with such an exciting project for Clackmannanshire.
“The Wellbeing Hub and new Lochies School will make a real difference to people’s lives, giving our community a place to learn, stay active and spend time together.
“I also want to thank sportscotland for their support and the £500,000 of capital funding, which will help us create facilities that our residents can be proud of for generations to come.”
Essential ‘enabling’ works have already begun at the site, which included relocating power lines and a water main. Approval of the Full Business Case will now allow the project to proceed to contract signing and ‘financial close’ to allow the main construction programme to commence, targeted for September of this year.
The project is being managed for Clackmannanshire Council by Hub East Central Scotland Ltd with Robertson Construction as the main contractor in collaboration with JM Architects, Rankin Fraser, Blyth & Blyth, Baker Hicks, ECD Architects, and Thomas & Adamson.