The brand new facility, with capacity for up to 500 pupils, is expected to be built in time for the 2017/18 school term.

The project is being taken forward by hub North Scotland Ltd. in partnership with the council and will see the current school site undergo significant changes over the next three years. The new three-story school building with associated new 3G sports pitch, piping pavilion and enlarged car parking and pupil drop off area will replace the current 1960s era buildings.

The work on the new school is expected to be underway by the end of this year; construction of the main school building will be completed by the summer of 2017 and ready to be occupied by pupils and staff for the start of the new school session in 2017/18.

The project will then enter its second phase of construction, with the demolition of all the existing school buildings, which will allow the ground works to take place for the construction of the new 3G pitch, car parking and pupil drop off areas.

This second and final phase is expected to be completed by April 2018.

Policy lead for planning and regulatory services, Councillor David Kinniburgh, said: “We are delighted to grant planning permission for this project which will have a real benefit to people in and around Campbeltown for years to come. The focus of the council’s Planning Service is on making things happen, supporting sustainable economic growth and regeneration. In trying to attract people and investment to the area quality facilities for educating our young people are a must.”

The new school will be built on the existing grammar school site. The capacity allows for an increasing number of pupils, based on school roll forecasts and local development plan actions for the next 10 years.

South Kintyre Councillor Rory Colville, policy lead for education and lifelong learning, welcomed the news. He said: “We are focussed on providing young people in and around Campbeltown with the best possible start in life and this planning approval represents a huge milestone in the process of delivering a new school fit for the 21st century.

“Everyone involved in educating and supporting our young people is committed to realising the council’s ambition to make Argyll and Bute a place people choose to live, learn, work and do business.

“This new school will help to equip our children for the future; providing them with a fabulous facility in which they can learn and succeed, be ambitious and realise their full potential.

“This is one part of an ambitious £74 million investment programme which will also provide new schools for children in Dunoon, Kirn and Oban.”