THE process for buying land needed for two new high schools at the £180 million super campus in Halbeath is under way.

Councillors will be told in private today (Thursday) the sums involved for acquiring the areas for new buildings for St Columba's and Woodmill.

The schools will share the campus with Fife College and "initial land option agreements" will be put in place, conditional on the outcome of a public consultation approving the relocation, which went live last Tuesday.

The land is on the Shepherd Offshore site and a report by Ken Gourlay, the council's head of assets, transportation and environment, said: "On completion of the consultation, a report will be taken to

the education and children’s services committee and in the event the proposed replacements are approved, the land transactions would be progressed to conclusion."

The eduction committee gave their backing to the joint campus idea in March 2019 and the consultation will run until September.

Planning applications are set to be progressed over the summer and, all going well, enabling works for the development "will potentially commence in Autumn 2021".

In the report to the assets and corporate services sub-committee, Mr Gourlay said: "The proposed learning campus would bring together pupils, students and staff at Woodmill, St Columba’s and Fife College in modern, fit-for-purpose and low-carbon facility buildings.

"The new campus could be ready for occupation during academic session 2024/2025."

He added: "Following completion of the campus the existing schools will be surplus to requirements.

"It is envisaged that a planning design and development brief will be prepared in conjunction with the planning officers to ensure that prospective purchasers are given a clear guide on acceptable development proposals."