The visit was the first step in the designers understanding the site, the town, and getting a better understanding of the place and the project.

The scope of the first phase of the project – which includes replacement facilities for Peterhead Academy, Anna Ritchie School and a new primary with Dales Park and Meethill coming together – was confirmed in November, with a revised funding commitment of £98.6 million through Aberdeenshire’s Capital Plan, having previously been agreed last April.

The aim is for the new campus to be completed in the 2025/26 school year, following which the second phase of works, to deliver a Community Hub on the existing Academy site can begin. This second phase includes approved funding for a replacement swimming pool, fitness suite, theatre and community spaces.

Preliminary master planning for the project, in advance of the main design work, is due to begin later this month when the team will use feedback from earlier community engagements.

There will be opportunities for the school and wider Peterhead communities to engage even more with the project team through the development process.

Internationally renowned Danish architects Henning Larsen will lead the design concept for the new space.

It will be a focal point for the community as well as a teaching space, as Cllr Anne Stirling from the Communities Committee explained. She said: “We have a good track record through projects like Alford and Inverurie of creating inclusive spaces. The leisure and community facilities will be of enormous benefit to the wider Peterhead community, providing spaces for them to meet and giving them opportunities for physical activity which will benefit their mental wellbeing as well.”

Cllr Gillian Owen, chair of the council’s Education and Children’s Services Committee, commented: “I was thrilled to meet with the architects earlier this month and learn a bit more about the process our project team is leading on. Peterhead Community Campus will be a huge boost to the children and young people who’ll enjoy significant educational benefit, and the wider community of Peterhead.”

Cllr Norman Smith, chair of Buchan Area Committee added: “The appointment of architects will be a big step forward for our Peterhead Community Campus project team. It will be fantastic to see detailed designs taking shape and I look forward to engaging further in this process, as I’m sure many of our children, young people and communities do too.”

Jacob Kurek, global design director at Henning Larsen said: “We are honoured to be working with Aberdeenshire Council and the people of Aberdeenshire on the Peterhead Community Campus, an ambitious project that sets high standards for learning and community engagement. Sustainability – already top of mind today – will matter even more to future generations, and the campus will be a living lab for what sustainable education and communities can be to improve quality of life.”

Faithful+Gould is the project management consultant hired to undertake the day-to-day delivery of the project.

Andrew Low, regional director, said: “We are delighted and extremely proud to be involved in this community focussed campus. The project will greatly enhance the town of Peterhead, benefitting the people of the town as well as the surrounding communities. Our team are hugely committed to the future of the North-East of Scotland, and we will combine this enthusiasm with our strong record in delivering educational and community facilities in the region.”

Meanwhile, councillors have approved a £5.2m procurement plan for environmental and infrastructure projects in the south of Aberdeenshire.

Members of Aberdeenshire Council’s Kincardine and Mearns area committee unanimously supported the plan which forms the first stage of the project approval process.

Committee chair Cllr Wendy Agnew said: “This procurement relates to ten significant projects from Roads & Infrastructure and Environment & Sustainability which, if progressed, will help us make repairs to elements of our infrastructure, undertake scoping and feasibility studies and proceed with design works.

“This is excellent news for our local communities and further details will be shared as the projects advance.”