Aberdeenshire Council have given the go-ahead to proposals for the long-anticipated replacement of Peterhead Academy, marking a major step forward for a project long championed by the local community.

The new academy is set to provide a contemporary, inspiring and fully accessible learning environment, supporting education, wellbeing and community life for decades to come.

Construction is due to begin in April next year, with pupils and staff expected to move into the building in mid-August 2028. The project will be delivered by Hub North Scotland Ltd in partnership with Robertson Construction Eastern.

The Buchan Area Committee heard on Tuesday, 2 December, that the design features a striking central square form with two elongated wings — one running parallel to Kinmundy Road and the other extending south across the site.

The three-storey scheme brings together a broad range of high-quality facilities. On the ground floor there will be flexible learning rooms, a full sports hall and high-ceiling gymnasium, drama spaces, meeting and conference rooms, workshops, storage, kitchen facilities and accessible changing rooms.

The upper floors will include modern classrooms, laboratories, workshops, support spaces, plant rooms and adaptable teaching areas designed to meet evolving curriculum needs.

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At roof level, energy-efficient plant, ventilation systems and photovoltaic panels will be included, with louvred screening to reduce visual impact and support the project's sustainability goals.

A comprehensive design and access statement submitted with the application charts the evolution of the layout and proposes high-quality, durable materials with a modern aesthetic.

According to the council's Planning Service, the academy will sit within an extensively enhanced landscape. A network of pedestrian pathways will improve movement and accessibility, retaining the existing core path and adding central north–south routes.

Outdoor sport and recreation will be a standout element, comprising a synthetic running track with grass infield, an all-weather rugby/football pitch and a grass football/rugby pitch to the south.

All pitches will be enclosed with appropriate fencing and served by new floodlighting. The site will also include courtyards, play areas, outdoor seating, cycle storage and extensive planting to deliver a biodiversity net gain.

In its submission to the planning application, Live Life Aberdeenshire (LLA) highlighted the development's strategic importance, its strong alignment with Aberdeenshire Council priorities and its potential to significantly enrich community life.

LLA emphasised a commitment to maximising community access to the academy's facilities, expanding dual-use so local groups and residents can use the campus outside school hours, and fostering programmes that promote physical activity, wellbeing and stronger social connections.

Concerns about a perceived loss of pitches at Kinmundy were addressed, with LLA — supported by Sport Scotland and the SFA — confirming that three new high-quality pitches will not only replace but improve upon historic provision which had been significantly underused. The expanded and modernised facilities are intended to reduce barriers to participation and encourage lifelong engagement in sport and physical activity.

Welcoming the milestone, area committee chair Cllr Dianne Beagrie said afterwards: "We are delighted to have approved the plans for this long-awaited new academy. Councillors expressed enthusiasm for the transformational impact the new Peterhead Academy will have on learners, staff, families and the wider Buchan community. This approval marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the town and surrounding area – one that blends innovative educational design with inclusive, future-focused community facilities."