Approved by councillors yesterday as the local authority set its latest capital budget, the seven-year programme of development will see £128m worth of improvements to school buildings including two new schools in the north of the city, as well as at the recently-revived Oudenarde estate near Bridge of Earn.

Major roads upgrades and an £18m new leisure facility at Blairgowrie are also included.

The meeting saw cross-party support to return the iconic Stone of Destiny to the region, where it could be housed at Perth City Hall as part of a £30m investment in cultural projects.

It also emerged that £20m will be spent on crucial flood defences at Comrie, Milnathort, Kinross and Scone.

A £600,000 package of improvements for the A977 was also welcomed, as was a £2.5m “creative exchange” hub at Perth’s old St John’s Primary School.

Council leader Ian Miller said it was the plan was “essential” to ensure the area had a prosperous and vibrant future.

He said: “Our track record of investing in our future has, I think, been outstanding and this council should be rightly proud of all that it has achieved.

“This is a budget for jobs, the economy and the future of our young people and communities.”