Work on the new £36m Ellon Academy Community Campus is to begin later this month.

The contract has been awarded to FMP Joint Venture Limited after the project tender was approved by the Policy and Resources Committee in April.

The school and community campus will include a 1,200-capacity school, a five-land swimming pool, Banff & Buchan Outreach Centre, Support for Learners unit and community, learning and development facilities.

Proposals also include a new footbridge across the River Ythan to help improve links with the town centre.

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Chair of Aberdeenshire Council's Policy and Resources Committee, Councillor Jim Gifford said: "This is an exciting project for pupils, parents, teachers and the wider Ellon community.

"I am glad that the plans are progressing on schedule and look forward to seeing the new community campus in 2015."

A replacement for Ellon Academy is part of the Council’s long term asset management strategy. Part of the funding for the project was awarded by the Scottish government, via the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) in April 2010.

Following a revision of funding available, the amount is currently £18.6m.

Planning permission for the new school was gained in October 2012, and the site at Cromleybank was purchased in January 2013. It is hoped construction work on the project will begin at the end of June, with the school due to be up and running by August 2015.

(JP/CD)