Work to replace two Arbroath primary schools as part of an ambitious multi-million pound project was marked by two official site visits today.

Children and learning vice-convener, Councillor Derek Wann, attended first at Muirfield Primary School and then at Ladyloan Primary School to tour the developments underway at both school sites.

He was joined by pupils and staff, fellow local councillors and council officers, as well as representatives from contractors Robertson Tayside, procurement partners hub East Central Scotland and the Scottish Futures Trust.

Councillor Wann said: “The Arbroath Schools Project represents a significant investment in our local schools estate as well as our local community, our local children and their futures.

“It has seen the delivery of new schools at Timmergreens and Warddykes. We forge ahead with replacing Muirfield and Ladyloan schools, where work got underway before Christmas. Later this year, work will also begin on a shared campus for Hayshead and St Thomas primary schools.

“These are exciting times as we continue the transformation of our educational facilities. We are committed to ensuring that the schools resources we provide to our children in Angus present them with the best opportunities to realise their potential.”

Designed by Holmes Miller, both the new Muirfield Primary School and the new Ladyloan Primary School are being constructed within the existing schools’ grounds so that they can remain operational and the impact upon pupils and staff is minimised while the work is being carried out.

Construction of the new buildings should be complete by the end of this year, with children and staff scheduled to move in at both new schools in time for the Spring Term (Jan 2019). The existing buildings will be demolished and each replaced by a new car park and sports pitch. This work is scheduled for completion by the end of May 2019.

Gary Bushnell, chief executive, hub East Central Scotland, said: “It’s great to see the project progressing well and we look forward to delivering two high quality news school buildings for the community. Our teams work closely with Angus Council to support their education and learning strategy and this project follows the recent successful completion of community school campuses in Brechin and Forfar.”

Kevin Dickson, managing director, Robertson Tayside, said: “These two projects will have a major impact on future generations in Angus. We look forward to engaging with the council and community – including future pupils of the two schools – throughout the construction phase and beyond. We will be working with all stakeholders, including our facilities management business, and I have no doubt that the completed schools will be of the highest quality.”

Gemma Boggs, education delivery director at Scottish Futures Trust, added: “Ladyloan and Muirfield primary schools takes the number of schools to have entered construction under the £1.8bn Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme, which we manage on behalf of Scottish Government, to over 100.

“This is a very exciting time and these two primaries are great examples of the evolution of school design that has been seen over the programme. They promote the creation and delivery of world-class, learning environments that not only meet future educational needs but the communities they serve as well.”