Construction is set to get underway on a new Community Hub in Coatbridge after North Lanarkshire Council signed a contract with project partners hub South West and Morgan Sindall.

Catering for a capacity of up to 534 pupils and 50 early learning and childcare places, the new hub will bring together two primary schools: Carnbroe PS and Sikeside PS along with an early years class.

The two-storey building will provide extensive natural lighting along with exciting and flexible learning spaces.

It also features an eleven-a-side all-weather playing surface, extensive landscaped and outside teaching facilities which are designed to provide what those behind the project describe as a country like park feel.

Its progressive design will support and accommodate a wide range of learning requirements for today and in the future. The facilities will be available to the wider community outwith the school day.

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Approximately £25 million is being invested in the project, which is fully financed by the North Lanarkshire Council.

Councillor Frank McNally, Convener of Education and Families, said: "I am delighted that we have taken a massive step towards delivering this exciting new Community Hub, which forms such a key part of our vision for North Lanarkshire.

"We have a clear goal to ensure that our youngest residents have the very best start in life.

"Schools represent our biggest investment in infrastructure and we are committed to replacing every establishment not rebuilt or remodelled since 1996.

"Integrated town hubs and the smaller community hubs will modernise the school estate and offer multiple services from the council and our partners, including the third sector.

"I am pleased that we will soon see other community hub projects get underway across our area."

Both school communities will be involved in choosing the name for the new hub and the new school – in a similar process to that carried out at former Dunrobin and Petersburn Primary Schools, which merged to form Hilltop PS in Airdrie.

The process for the naming of the new school is already underway with pupils researching the local area to generate some great ideas for the hub name.

Work will start on this project early next year and are expected to take around 18 months to complete.