Designs have been revealed for the new accommodation being built by the City of Edinburgh Council to cater for increased free primary school meal provision.

Planning applications have now been submitted for the accommodation at four schools across the capital – Cramond, East Craigs, Towerbank and Sciennes.

The new buildings and extensions are needed so the council can meet Scottish Government requirements to provide free school meals for all P1 to P3s.

New gym halls are being built at Cramond and East Craigs. Unlike most primary schools which have separate gym and dining halls, these currently each only have one very small combined hall which will be freed up exclusively for dining. Towerbank and Sciennes are having extensions built to their current dining halls.

The Scottish Government provided £4.5 million capital funding to build the new dining accommodation and upgrade other school catering facilities across the city.

Councillor Paul Godzik, education convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Parents at the four schools will be pleased to see the designs for the new accommodation and hear that planning applications have now been submitted.

“The schools have worked extremely hard to provide meals in difficult circumstances and I’m sure staff are looking forward to the new facilities.”

He added: “The take up for free school meals has been really encouraging and supports our commitment to serve healthy and nutritious meals. This was reinforced earlier this year when the council became the first local authority in Scotland to be awarded Bronze Food for Life Catering Mark for all our schools.”