Scottish Borders Council (SBC) has welcomed the decision by the Scottish Government to offer 50% funding towards the relocation a primary school.

Duns primary school will move to the site of a former high school.

SBC bid for the funding after the decision to replace the school was seen as top priority and was unanimously agreed by Council on 29 October 2009.

The Scottish Government has now announced that it would agree to fund half the cost of the project from the first phase of its primary school funding programme. The estimated total cost of the project is between £6-£7 million.

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Executive Member for Education, Councillor Catriona Bhatia, said: "This is great news for Duns Primary School and the surrounding community. Duns Primary is our top priority for replacement due to a huge number of issues, including the consistently increasing school roll and the poor condition and layout of the school building which is not acceptable to deliver a 21st century education.

"I am glad the Scottish Government is supporting us to make the most logical decision to move the primary school along into the high school building, which we know is a good fit for the school and is a building we already own so we hope it can be a relatively straightforward project."

The former high school is listed, and the most architecturally sensitive parts will be re-used as part of the school.

SBC's half of the funding will be allocated from the School's further new build block for 2012/13. The Council will manage the appropriate structuring of the capital programme to match the provision of the Scottish Government’s funding.

(GK/BMcc)