Children aged from three to 18 would receive nursery and school education in new buildings proposed for the site of the current Tain Royal Academy.

Knockbreck Primary, Craighill Primary and St Duthus special school would be closed once the new campus is ready. Temporary modular accommodation will be provided on the current Craighill Primary campus until the new campus is available.

Some responses to public consultation on the plans raised concerns about having pupils of all ages on one site.

Councillor Alasdair Christie, chair of the council’s education, children and adult services committee, welcomed the decision to provide a new community campus for Tain.

He said: “This development proposal, which local members and the community have generally positively supported, will greatly improve the educational and community benefits for the Tain area by providing better modern facilities. The opportunity to include enhanced community facilities within the development will also be beneficial to the local community and visitors to the area.”

The Scottish Government will now be informed of the decision and has the option to call in the plans for consideration.