The Scottish Government expects construction work on a new £30million secondary school in Aberdeen to get underway next summer.
Minister for Learning Alasdair Allan said the city council had identified Bobby Cooper Park in Cove as a suitable site for a new facility to replace Kincorth and Torry academies.
He spoke out after being quizzed on the topic by Aberdeen South and North Kincardine SNP MSP Maureen Watt.
Aberdeen City Council leader and education convener Jenny Laing said officers were putting the finishing touches to a planning application.
She added that it would be submitted to the local authority’s planning committee for consideration.
Ms Laing said the new school, which will be largely funded by the Scottish Government, was expected to be opened in August 2016.
“We are keen to provide the new school for the communities of Kincorth, Torry and Cove and have been working closely with the Scottish Futures Trust,” she added.
“We have to go through the normal statutory procedures.”
Mr Allan said the new facility would be delivered through the government’s school building programme – Scotland’s Schools for the Future.
“My officials and Scottish Futures Trust are working closely with the council and I expect this project to start construction next summer,” he said.