DELAYS to a new primary school in Irvine are "outwith the control of North Ayrshire Council", the authority's depute leader has insisted.
Councillor Shaun Macaulay says the new £14 million Montgomerie Park Primary will now "hopefully" be built in 2024.
The authority originally planned to start work on the facility in 2022-23.
In March 2019 that start date was brought forward by two years – but the Covid pandemic delayed that move.
And when formal plans were unveiled last year, the Times reported a revised opening date of August 2024.
A computer-generated image of the new school
The new non-denominational primary school will accommodate 342 pupils. There will also be a nursery for 47 younger children.
The council's depute leader Shaun Macaulay said: “The school was meant to be complete this year.
"However, just with the global situation in terms of getting materials and supplies on board it will be delayed slightly, hopefully to next year.
“That is the case with all of our capital projects this year and it’s out of our control.
The site of the new Montgomerie Park Primary School
“We want to make sure that it’s the right design for the community and give them an opportunity for a proper consultation so they can say what is good about it as it’s their school.”
Councillor Macaulay, the authority's portfolio holder for education, insists the new school will be well worth waiting for – despite the delay.
He said: “The school is really innovative in the way it was designed with climate change ambitions. There was strict criteria in teams of being environmentally friendly.
“A whole host of projects will be put in it including solar panels, the walls will be properly insulated, there will be natural light coming in and stuff to retain water.
How the new Montgomerie Park Primary School will look (Image: jmarchitects)
"It will be well absolutely worth waiting for.
“As frustrating as any delay is, I think in light of the global circumstances, people understand.”
Cllr Macaulay added: “It will be the first school here in many years and it’s good because it’s part of a community and pupils from that area will be able to be educated there.
“It will be a real hub for the community to use. It’s a real hub and that’s exciting. The school will be a blueprint for future ones.”
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