Midlothian Council has submitted a bid to the Scottish Government for part of a £1 billion investment in schools.

The money would be used to replace Beeslack Community High School with a new school, which would also be a Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning. The new school would be situated on the A701 corridor, adjacent to Roslin.

Midlothian Council's Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Jim Muirhead said: "This is a hugely exciting project, which we are working on with the University of Edinburgh.

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"Our first Centre of Excellence, which specialises in digital industries, has been open at Newbattle now for the best part of a year. It is already garnering acclaim so we can build on our experience of successfully delivering that project.

"Fingers crossed, therefore, that this latest bid is successful."

The Scottish Government is planning to invest £1bn, amounting to £40m a year for 25 years, in improving the school estate.

It is proposed that the funding made available to each project will be equivalent to 50% of the capital cost and that it will be dependent on the council finding match funding.

Cllr Muirhead said the identified site will provide the best possible location for a learning campus which will draw together the growing communities of Loanhead, Bilston, Roslin and Auchendinny.

(MH/JG)