Midlothian Council has granted planning approval in principle for the new educational and community facilities, which will be around 100m from Shawfair railway station.

The campus is planned to open in time for the 2024/2025 school year and will provide health, leisure and sporting facilities for the entire community as well as nursery, primary and seconding schooling.

Nick Waugh, director of Shawfair LLP, said: “This is excellent news for Shawfair town centre and will provide a vibrant focal point, attracting people from all over the area.

“The town centre is really taking shape now.  Dandara has become the first housebuilder to begin constructing new homes within the Shawfair ‘ring road’ and we plan to begin initial ground investigations for the eastern section of road shortly. This will run north from the new Millerhill Village bypass – which opened earlier this year - and provide a direct connection with the new campus.”

When completed, the new town of Shawfair will have 4,000 sustainable homes.