The new school, which will be built on the grounds of the existing primary, has a budget of £22.4 million.

hub South West Scotland will appoint the design team, who will start to look at important issues, such as access to the site, traffic management and the level of disruption to the current school, which would continue to operate throughout the building project.

Councillor Martin Kilbride, buildings, housing and environment portfolio holder for South Ayrshire Council, said: “Now that Sacred Heart Primary School is complete, we can move to the next phase of the project in Girvan. Initial designs are required to investigate where the new school will sit in proximity to the existing building and how it will be accessed. We will capture the views of pupils, parents, staff, and the wider community as we move forward with the scheme.”

Councillor Stephen Ferry, education portfolio holder, said: “The new school will help to transform learning in Girvan. The original building dates from the 1950s and so misses out on many features that newer schools take for granted. These are just the first steps, but I am sure excitement will build when everyone involved will be able to see what the new school will look like.”