Planners have paved the way for the building of a £12million replacement for a fire-hit Garioch school.
Aberdeenshire Council officials have backed the proposals for a new Kinellar Primary in Blackburn.
Councillors approved the budget for the new building – which will have space for 450 primary and 40 nursery pupils – in June.
A fire on New Years Day 2015 destroyed the nursery and primary one classrooms.
The new school will feature a games area and a sensory room for pupils with additional support needs, a community playground and extra car parking and it should be complete by summer 2018.
Pupils are currently being bussed to the new Midmill Primary in Kintore.
A council spokeswoman said: “Planning permission for the new school has been granted, as well as permission to demolish the old school.
Chairman of the Garioch area committee and East Garioch councillor Fergus Hood said: “It is another step forward in this project.
“We have a brand new school about to open in Kintore and planning approval for a new school in Kinellar.
“Parents are excited about getting a new school within the next 18 months or so. It is all coming together.”
Vice-chairman of the committee and fellow councillor for the area, Martin Ford, said there were “challenges” to overcome on replacing the school on the existing site.
He added: “However, the existing Kinellar School building is no longer suitable, so solutions had to be found. Clearly planning permission is a significant milestone in any construction project.
“The council has built a number of schools recently, including of course the new Midmill School, and I am always impressed by what super buildings they are.
“The end result I am sure will be a really excellent new school building.”
An open morning will be held on Saturday for former pupils, staff and parents of the old Kinellar Primary to be given a final look around.
