Morrison Construction has started work to build a new £68 million education campus in East Ayrshire.

The Barony Campus is being developed on the Broomfield site and completion is scheduled for summer 2020.

Once finished, the facility will incorporate The Robert Burns Academy, Lochnorris Primary School, Cherry Trees Early Childhood Centre and Hillside School, providing state-of-the-art facilities for children, young people and the local community.

A total of four interconnected buildings will be developed to provide accommodation for Early Years, Primary and Secondary learning communities, including young people with additional support needs.

In addition, the campus will offer a large amount of sports facilities including two full sized, flood-lit synthetic pitches of world class rugby standard, a 400m four-lane running track with six-lane sprint, two full-sized grass pitches, a seven-aside floodlit synthetic pitch and an outdoor basketball court, together with 13 indoor courts in various configurations. The two rugby pitches, the first elements of the project to be completed, are scheduled to be finished in early 2019.

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Other features will include a community café, meeting rooms, theatre space, enterprise kitchen for catering, recording studio, music practice rooms and project space for textiles/crafts and pottery.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, Council Leader Douglas Reid said: "After a considerable period of discussion, deliberation and consultation, it really is a pleasure to see this project coming out of the ground.

"It's one thing to see the drawings on paper, but it's only when you are on site that you really appreciate the scale of this project and the impact it will have on the lives of our young people and communities.

"East Ayrshire is leading the way with this Campus. This project has been brought to life thanks to the input from pupils, parents, teachers and the wider local communities. The design will provide a nurturing 21st century learning and teaching environment to enable every child and young person to reach their full potential, and members of the community in Cumnock, Auchinleck and the surrounding villages will also be able to take advantage of the facilities on offer.

"Provision for pupils requiring additional support will be second to none; the new Campus will feature six fully equipped classrooms, dining facilities, a hydrotherapy pool, a state of the art sensory room and additional therapy spaces.

"In this digital age, it's vital that our pupils have access to the very latest technology and facilities to enhance their learning. Among the many outstanding features within the new Campus will be wi-fi technology which will enable learners to work flexibly across the campus in different learning environments; interactive teaching aids and Scotland's first interactive and immersive room – a high-tech audio visual space where learners can be part of a virtual environment."

Eddie Robertson, Morrison Construction's Managing Director for Central Scotland, said: "We are excited to begin works on this state-of-the-art project, which is a major investment for Cumnock, Auchinleck and the surrounding areas.

"We look forward to continuing our working partnership with East Ayrshire Council and delivering this wonderful education facility for pupils, staff and the community."

(LM/MH)