Plans to build a new primary school and nursery in Canaan Lane, Edinburgh, have been granted full approval.

This scheme will see the existing care home demolished to make way for the new development. The refurbishment of Deanbank House will also form part of the project as well as associated works.

The plans for the new south Edinburgh school were approved at a meeting of the Edinburgh City Council Development Management Sub Committee yesterday, 06 November.

Welcoming the decision, Education, Children and Families Convener Councillor Ian Perry said: "It's excellent news that we can now press on with building a much-needed brand new primary school for south Edinburgh and I know the project team are raring to go. Today's decision marks the start of a great new chapter for the area; the new school will accommodate 420 children, with 80 more in the nursery and has been sustainably designed to complement the Grange Conservation Area.

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"There's a special emphasis on outdoor learning, with a variety of opportunities for different types of play in a green and diverse environment that aims to reconnect children with the natural world. And we'll make strides towards our ambitious target of becoming a carbon neutral Capital city by 2030 with the inclusion of air source heat pumps to supply the school with renewable energy. We don't have a name for the new school as yet – we want that to be something the community gets fully involved in and we'll announce further details in due course."

Work is expected to begin before Christmas, with the school scheduled to open in time for the start of the academic year in August 2021.

(CM/JG)