Plans to construct a new Inverness Royal Academy have been approved by The Highland Council.

In addition to the £34m school, two new artificial sports pitches will all be built on the site of the existing academy, which is west of Cuduthel Road in Inverness.

The school itself will have 39 practical, 40 non-practical, five tutorial classrooms and six classrooms to accommodate subjects, while the community use of the facility will be made available through two games halls, a fitness suite, dance studio, gymnasium and two pitches.

Within the new school's main central teaching, social and administration block will be bounded by sports facilities, and the expanded Additional Support Needs and Autism Spectrum Disorder department. It will also include an energy centre/bin storage building, new outdoor learning facilities, a wetlands habitat, trim track, sensory and growing gardens, and improvements to the public areas.

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Following planning approval, construction work is now expected to commence on site in July 2014, with a scheduled completion date of May 2016.

Hub North Scotland Ltd will deliver the project for The Highland Council.

Councillor Alasdair Christie, Chair of the Highland Council's Education, Children and Adult Services Committee, said: "This is a key step in delivering modern educational establishments for Inverness and a major milestone in our work with the Scottish Government to develop our programme of modern school provision in the Highlands.

"The new school build at Inverness Royal Academy is a huge £34million investment boost to the local community and economy. This is fantastic news for Inverness."

(JP/MH)