The CCG project is the latest to benefit from the council’s £270m investment that will see every child in the region in a new or refurbished school by 2020.

The Holmes Miller-designed building, which will be built on the blaes gravel pitches at the current school site, will feature 13 classrooms, a gym, dining hall, music room and a library over its two stories.

Children will be dropped off at a dedicated lay-by with space for three buses and pedestrian access will be from Staffa Street, Drumshantie Road and Kirn Drive. The old school building will be demolished once work is complete.

Cllr Jim Clocherty said: “This is another significant milestone in the council’s transformation of our school estate. We have come such a long way in the past 10 years and despite the deepest economic downturn in generations we have still managed to deliver a £270m investment towards Inverclyde’s future.”

CCG’s chairman and chief executive, Alastair Wylie, said: “The rebuild of St Ninian’s Primary School is a vital project which will bring tremendous benefits to the learning and educational opportunities for young people in Gourock.

“The new school is being constructed within the existing St Ninian’s Primary School area and our construction approach will seek to minimise disruption to staff and ensure pupils can remain within their current school until the new building is complete.

“We are proud to be working with Inverclyde Council and hub West Scotland on the new St Ninian’s Primary School and we are confident that, upon completion, the modern facilities will contribute greatly to the wider regeneration of Inverclyde and beyond.”

Angeline Robertson, partnership director at hub West Scotland, said: “We are delivering four schools in partnership with Inverclyde Council. St Ninian’s follows the design principles of St Patrick’s primary school and will be completed by main contractor CCG in summer 2018. We are delighted that the partnership is producing such high quality facilities for the communities in Inverclyde.”