Financial close has been reached on the £25 million Queen Margaret Academy project in South Ayrshire.

With official documents now signed, Kier is preparing to move on site to start construction of the new facility in the grounds of the existing Academy. The new building is expected to open in October 2019.

The development will provide places for 800 young people, with modern classrooms, interactive ICT, a large games hall, two gyms, two all-weather pitches, and hard games courts. In addition, the building will house Psychological Services and a Supported Learning Centre, which are already based at the current school.

Once finished, the current building will be demolished and the site fully landscaped.

Cllr Peter Henderson said: "By investing in this significant new building we're creating a base to transform the way young people are taught, with the new school a more flexible space in which to deliver lessons.

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"The building and facilities will also be available for community use, which will help make the project an important local hub. With initial work due to start in the next few weeks I look forward to seeing this ambitious new project take shape in the months ahead."

Michael McBrearty, Chief Executive of delivery partner hub South West, said: "The new Queen Margaret Academy is hub South West's fifth educational collaboration with South Ayrshire Council, having recently completed the new Ayr Academy, innovative modernisation at Marr College in Troon, and new Primary Schools for Dailly and Tarbolton.

"The new academy will provide a wonderfully modern and inclusive community facility that will provide excellent resources and opportunities for the area.

"We look forward to proceeding to site with contractor Kier Construction in the coming weeks."

Kier Construction's Managing Director of its Scotland & north-east England business, Brian McQuade, added: "We're proud to continue our relationship with South Ayrshire Council and looking forward to delivering an exciting new project which reinforces our position as a UK leader across education.

"We'll be on site soon to start to deliver this state-of-the-art teaching, sporting and community facility at Queen Margaret Academy, which will help to support future generations."

(LM/MH)