Work on a new £44m Community Campus in Port Glasgow has reached a major milestone, Inverclyde Council has said.

The building envelope of the the Slaemuir complex has now been completed by contractors GRAHAM Construction, making the structure wind and water tight.

The new building is set to be the new home for Port Glasgow High School and St Stephen's High School as well as a new Additional Support Needs (ASN) School to replace Glenburn and Lilybank schools.

Finishing touches are currently being made to the aluminium cladding and curtain walling of the main building, while internal fittings and fixtures to the ASN School are also underway, with plasterwork, ceilings, tiling, decorations and fittings continuing within the teaching and sports blocks.

Outside the facility, the football and hockey pitches have already been completed and landscaping is due to begin.

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Inverclyde Council leader Councillor Stephen McCabe said: "These are exciting times for education in Port Glasgow and Inverclyde. The new Community Campus is a fantastic facility and the jewel in the crown of our ambitious schools estate programme.

"It has been fascinating to watch the complex take shape and I am hugely impressed with the attention to detail and the quality of the work.

"Staff and pupils will be able to enjoy the best possible environment when it is completed and the wider community will be able to make use of the fantastic facilities."

Port Glasgow High and St Stephen’s will have their own separate entrances, with each school having its own foyer area leading to its own teaching spaces. The foyers will, however, have direct access to a shared 'agora' or social hub of the campus.

The agora also connects with the ASN School and provides access to all shared facilities, including an art, science & technology block, a sports block and a drama performing arts area linked to the assembly hall.

The ASN School will also have a hydrotherapy pool as part of a suite of therapy facilities and the dining facility is situated close to the main school dining area.

Leisure facilities include a multi-use games area, fully equipped fitness suite and gymnasium and two all weather pitches. These will be available for community use. The ASN School will have a play area and its own smaller games area.

The Port Glasgow Community Campus is set to be completed in October this year.

(JP/CD)