Plans to construct a new £3.6 million replacement for Abington Primary School and nursery have been given the go-ahead by South Lanarkshire Council.

Work will get underway in the spring on the tandem build project which will allow the 21 pupils to remain in their current building, in the village’s Carlisle Road, while the new building is constructed.

The new single-storey school will include:

The school will be built on the southern part of the existing site on what is currently the grass football pitch. The existing building will then be used as a decant facility for Crawford Primary School, before being demolished to allow part of the site to be used for a children’s play park.

Councillor Hugh Dunsmuir, the chair of the planning committee, said: “This new school application shows that we are continuing to progress with our unique modernisation programme of our 125-strong primary school estate.

“Since 2004 when we embarked on this programme the majority of our pupils are now learning in new, modern environments. And, as so many have already benefitted, so too will the pupils of Abington as they look forward to a bright new future in a brand new school.”