An Aberdeenshire primary school was given the final go-ahead yesterday – as a £1.4million extension to another hit a setback.
The £13million Hillside Primary in Portlethen received full planning permission during a meeting of the council’s Kincardine and Mearns area committee.
However, plans to add three classrooms and community facilities at Laurencekirk Primary were put on hold so more talks can be held with local groups.
Portlethen’s third primary will have room for 350 pupils on a five-acre site near Causey Mount road.
The 13-classroom school will also include three football pitches, a nursery, nature garden and space for 75 cars.
Local councillor Alison Evison said it would bring wider “community benefits”.
She added: “It has been a very long time coming – years and years – and it is good to see we are there now.”
Fellow councillor for the town, Ian Mollison, added: “It has taken years to get to this point with difficulties along the way.”
Chairman of the committee, Carl Nelson, said he was “absolutely delighted” with the plans.
Earlier the committee agreed to halt the proposed expansion of Laurencekirk Primary School to allow for further community engagement.
Councillors had been asked to approve the cost of extending the current building so officials could proceed to the tender stage but members said they feared the plans would not meet the requirement of local groups.
The committee heard some residents were also concerned that only three classrooms would be built as opposed to the four originally offered.
Councillor George Carr said: “I suggest we make sure this is all bottomed-out first. We must get this right because we haven’t got this right previously.”
Councillor Bill Howatson said locals needed “further assurances” before the council approved the cost of the plans.
Along with the new classrooms, the proposed extension would host a general purpose room which would act as an after-school club and a sensory room.
Work had been scheduled to start in February 2016 with a completion date of November.