Councillors have approved £50million plans for a new secondary school in one of the fastest-growing areas of the north-east – and set the wheels in motion for another.
The 1,600 pupil Inverurie Academy would be built on the site of the existing school and could open its doors as early as 2018.
Aberdeenshire Council’s Garioch area committee approved the scheme yesterday after hearing how a rapidly expanding population was putting pressure on existing schools.
The existing Inverurie Academy has a capacity of 1,100, but the roll could rise as high as 1,216 by 2021 if new housing and stay-on rates continue at current levels.
Members also backed a request to allow officers to pursue an option on a second piece of land, which the Press and Journal understands would be next to the new Kintore Primary site.
This site could be used to build a third secondary school for the area if pupil numbers continue to boom over the next decade.
The council had come under fire before yesterday’s meeting after it emerged it was considering holding the discussion in private.
However, a vote was taken before the talks started and the committee decided to hear the matter in public.
The plans will now go before a meeting of the policy and resources committee for further approval early next month.
Mike Porter, the council’s architecture manager, told members there were two options on the table – a 1,600-capacity replacement Inverurie Academy or a 1,200 capacity replacement with a new 740-pupil Kintore Academy.
Councillors unanimously backed the bigger Inverurie school – with the option to buy a site at Kintore in future.
Kemnay Academy, which has recently undergone a £14.9million extension to create 12 new classrooms, will also be retained.
Inverurie councillor Martin Kitts-Hayes said he fully supported the decision.
“As a local man, I’m pleased this has come forward,” he said.
“Inverurie Academy is well past its sell-by-date – the sooner we move forward with this, the better.”
His sentiments were echoed by the local community.
Fiona Peebles, vice-chairwoman of community council, said: “It’s certainly something we’ve been asking for the past few years, I’m happy they are finally moving forward with it.
“At the end of the day Inverurie is one of the fastest-growing towns in the north-east and the academy is in a really dilapidated state – it’s badly needed.
“It’s disappointing that we’re having to wait 18 months for it but I can understand why that is. I’m just pleased they are going ahead with it and making a firm commitment to building the new school.”