The new North East Campus will take shape on a large greenfield site at Lothian Crescent between the existing Longhaugh and St Lukes & St Matthews primaries.

Designed by Holmes Miller Architects on behalf of Dundee City Council, the modern building will bring together three primary schools and two nursery schools, housing up to 1,000 pupils.

The new campus will offer greatly enhanced facilities in comparison with the existing schools including multiple playgrounds, a soft play area, sports pitches, gardening and nature areas and outdoor classrooms.

Sports facilities will be of the highest quality, with a multi-use games area (MUGA) a consideration, all of which will be available for community use.

Details plans have also been drawn up for a “specially-designed public realm” to the front of the new school building, providing easy pedestrian access to the campus and shielding pupils from the road.

According to the council, deteriorating building fabric and constrained layouts at the ageing schools mean that new educational programmes are becoming increasingly difficult to deliver.

In their place, the North East Campus will house the pupils in “a modern, safe and welcoming environment”, which the council is confident will be flexible enough to “adapt to 21st Century education and future trends for many years to come”.

Councillor Stewart Hunter, children and families services committee convener, said: “These are exciting times and I am delighted to see this project moving forward. We are working hard to ensure that all our schools enjoy the best facilities we can provide.

“I have no doubt that the North East Campus will make a huge difference to pupils in this community.

“Our project board will meet in September to get this project underway, but there will be plenty of opportunities for parents, pupils and staff to have their say.

“Previous school projects have been delayed as consultation has led to calls for changes to the plans and as people tell us exactly what they want from their school buildings and facilities. We will take the time to make sure that we get it right.”

The move to the new campus was agreed by members of Dundee City Council’s then education committee in June, 2015.

Councillors will now have to consider and agree upon the detailed plans. Extensive community consultation will also take place.

Once the campus is complete, the council will begin the demolition of the existing adjacent primary schools and nursery.