TWO students from Alloa Academy have been announced as the winners of a competition which asked them to design an outdoor space for the new Wellbeing Hub and Lochies School development.

The pupils, Harrison and Emma, from S6 and S5 respectively, had the best designs and now have the chance to take part in a work experience placement with the project’s design team.

The competition, organised through Clackmannanshire Council, was open to all pupils in S3 to S6 across Wee County schools and was run in partnership with FIDA – the Futures Institute at Dollar Academy.

Councillor Scott Harrison, spokesperson for sports, leisure and active living, said: “This competition offered our young people a unique opportunity to get involved in one of the council’s most exciting projects to date.

“I’d like to offer my congratulations to all the young people who took part, and in particular, Harrison and Emma.

“The overall standard was really high, and it made judging a difficult task.”

Entrants were asked to create a concept design for an inclusive outdoor space that would encourage active lifestyles and foster good health and wellbeing for users with diverse needs.

Certificates for Achievement were handed out to each participant who met all aspects of the brief, which included sustainability and biodiversity.

Alloa Academy submitted a number of strong entrants into the competition, which allowed for Harrison, Emma and six other shortlisted candidates to take part in a half-day workshop with Nik Shala from JM Architects and Kirsty Knott from Rankin Fraser.

Ian Munro, rector for Dollar Academy and founder of FIDA, added: “Once again, it has been a pleasure to collaborate with the council and other schools in Clackmannanshire to deliver this exciting competition.

“It has been inspiring to see the students engage in shaping a key facility that will benefit the local community, and I am pleased to see their hard work rewarded.”

As previously reported by the Advertiser, the Wellbeing Hub is set to be built alongside a new Lochies School at the Pavilions in Alloa West.

The Wellbeing Hub will include swimming pools, games halls and leisure areas while the Lochies School will serve children and young people with severe and complex needs.

The project is being managed for Clackmannanshire Council by hub East Central Scotland with Robertson as the main contractor, JM Architects, Blyth & Blyth civil structural engineers and BakerHicks mechanical and electrical engineers.

For updated on the projects, visit clacks.gov.uk/leisure/wellbeing or email wellbeinghub@clacks.gov.uk.