East Renfrewshire Council has announced a record investment of £155 million in capital projects over the next eight years.

Councillors said the capital investment will ensure continued investment across early years, education, health and social care and local communities.

The local authority made the commitment as part of its budget for 2016/18 in which it faced an “unprecedented financial challenge” posed by severe local authority funding cuts.

Through a range of ambitious capital schemes, the council said it will ensure continued investment to drive growth, support the delivery of new schools and community facilities, ensure the City Deal plans are delivered and create opportunities for all.

Some of the key capital projects that will be delivered over the next two years alone as part of the £155m capital investment plan include the new £29.8m Barrhead High School; an £18.2m new faith schools joint campus in Mearns; a £13.9m new non-denominational primary/nursery in Mearns; a £3.1m roads investment; £21.9m worth of improvements to Barrhead and Newton Mearns road links; a proposed new £11.5m railway station for Barrhead South and £4.9m for a country park visitor centre.