WORK on the new £40million Garnock supercampus and leisure facility will start in February – with pupils moving in at the start of 2017, says North Ayrshire Council.

The council has decided that a January opening will give pupils and teachers plenty of time to settle in before exams.

It is estimated that the entire construction programme will take 90 weeks and stakeholders will be continually engaged throughout the two-year process.

The early ground works will start in February and be completed in April followed by the main construction programme starting in July.

Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Place, said: “Our pupils have been at the forefront of our thinking throughout this process.

“We will continue to consult thoroughly with teachers, parents, pupils and other stakeholders to ensure the move is carried out with the minimum of disruption to pupils as they prepare themselves for a busy exam period.” The siting of the supercampus at Longbar caused concerns among parents and local councillors about safety of children travelling to and from it along the B777.

Planning consent was granted with a list of conditions including the provision of a detailed travel plan and public transport strategy for the campus ‘prior to the campus becoming operational’.

No date has been given by the council for publication of these documents.

A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Council said: “We can confirm that the publication dates for these documents are still to be determined.

“The council will ensure that these documents are prepared in accordance with the relevant planning conditions which were applied to the development.” WORK on the new £40million Garnock supercampus and leisure facility will start in February – with pupils moving in at the start of 2017, says North Ayrshire Council.

The council has decided that a January opening will give pupils and teachers plenty of time to settle in before exams.

It is estimated that the entire construction programme will take 90 weeks and stakeholders will be continually engaged throughout the two-year process.

The early ground works will start in February and be completed in April followed by the main construction programme starting in July.

Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Place, said: “Our pupils have been at the forefront of our thinking throughout this process.

“We will continue to consult thoroughly with teachers, parents, pupils and other stakeholders to ensure the move is carried out with the minimum of disruption to pupils as they prepare themselves for a busy exam period.” The siting of the supercampus at Longbar caused concerns among parents and local councillors about safety of children travelling to and from it along the B777.

Planning consent was granted with a list of conditions including the provision of a detailed travel plan and public transport strategy for the campus ‘prior to the campus becoming operational’.

No date has been given by the council for publication of these documents.

A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Council said: “We can confirm that the publication dates for these documents are still to be determined.

“The council will ensure that these documents are prepared in accordance with the relevant planning conditions which were applied to the development.”