Councillors will be asked to push ahead with plans for a £13million school in a rapidly-expanding north-east town next week.
Aberdeenshire Council’s Kincardine and Mearns area committee will discuss the findings of a public consultation on the Portlethen primary school network, including plans for the new Hillside Primary, next Tuesday.
A rezoning exercise on catchment areas was required before Aberdeenshire Council could bring forward proposals for the 355-pupil school.
The outcome of this will also be discussed by councillors next week.
Director of education and children’s services, Maria Walker, said: “The consultation proposes a new primary school at Hillside, Portlethen, the creation of a catchment area for this new school and a review of the remaining primary school catchment areas within the Porlethen network.
“It is anticipated that many parents will want to move their children to the new school, and they would be welcome to do so.
“The recommendation is that the council should continue with the delivery of a new school at Hillside.
“As the project develops there will be ongoing dialogue with the community of Portlethen regarding transitional agreements to the new school.
“A further consultation will also be carried out with the pupils and the wider community.”
It is hoped the Hillside school would ease pressure on the town’s other two primaries, with Portlethen Primary already well above capacity.
The 13-classroom school would be located on a five-acre site near Causey Mount road, and was originally scheduled to open in August 2016.