Morrison Construction has commenced building work on a new £20 million primary school on behalf of ub South East and Midlothian Council.

Easthouses Primary School will also incude additional support needs facilities.

The school is being built on the site of the old Newbattle High School and will have the capacity to accommodate up to 459 students, including 16 spaces for children with Additional Support Needs and 80 pre-school places.

The project will see the creation of two wings, linked together by a shared space which will include dining facilities, a multi-purpose hall, an arts/movement space, offices and support facilities. The primary school will be housed in the larger of the two wings, a two-storey block at the northern end of the site, while the southern, one-storey wing will provide the Additional Support Needs spaces. Both wings will face each other across a three-sided courtyard, which includes a sunken garden.

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Councillor Ellen Scott, Midlothian Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for education, said: "I am delighted to see this new, state-of-the-art, primary school going ahead. It symbolises everything Midlothian Council wants to provide to our communities – high-quality education, that not only supports our young people’s learning, but also the health and wellbeing of both the children and the wider community.

"I am sure, like me, everyone can’t wait to see it being built and ready to welcome its pupils."