Plans to build a new primary school in East Kilbride have been approved by councillors today.
The proposal to build Jackton Primary school as part of East Kilbride Community Growth Area (CGA) was welcomed by elected members of the executive committee and will now be referred to the Glasgow City Cabinet for approval.
The new school will accommodate the growth of residents expected in the area as an estimated total of 2600 new homes are to be developed, with an expected population of 623 primary school aged children.
Chairman of the executive committee, Councillor John Ross, said: “If approved by the City Deal Cabinet, this school will be fantastic news for the CGA.
“It means families who are considering moving to the area will have the benefit of a brand new, purpose-built school right on their doorstep.”
The school has experienced development delays due to COVID, but is now expected to be complete by August 2023.
Councillor Monique McCadams for East Kilbride West questioned the development and if plans will change to reflect the new time scale.
She said: “I warmly welcome forward this paper and I know that there’s been a lot of work done in the background and a lot of constraints because of COVID.
“I just wanted to ask a question. I know that the goal post has been moved a couple of times due to COVID and you’re dealing with multiple developers. I know the primary school was going to be built in three stages, is this now the case?
“I take it for the August 2023 opening, I take it that the project in its entirety will now be open or will it just be the school or the nursery first, or will it be the full build?”
It was discussed at the meeting that the school is now being built as a single phase as this is the most cost effective way to proceed with the development.
The school will be a 4751 square metre facility comprising of 17 classrooms and two general purpose areas with four additional support needs classrooms.
Early learning and childcare facilities for up to 80 three- and four-year-olds and 15 two-year-olds will also form part of the project, along with a seven-a-side floodlit football pitch which can be used for community lets outwith school hours
The use of the facilities outside school hours was questioned by councillor Jim Wardhaugh.
He said: “The council policy that we had was that the sport facilities, MUGA and 3G pitches would be used for free use within the community outwith school hours.
“That policy doesn’t seem to be upheld here as it is community lets for the pitch where the policy for the council on all other facilities was free use by the community outwith school hours.”
It was revealed at the meeting that the facilities would be used for informal and formal use for the wider community with access being switched over from time to time to provide a mix of community use.
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