The state-of-the-art community hub and high school will replace Newbattle Community High School, providing high quality facilities for the local community, teachers and pupils.

The building is being delivered by Midlothian Council’s development partner, hub South East, and its appointed contractor Morrison Construction.

Designed by Cooper Cromar, the £30 million project is expected to open in 2018 and will hold up to 1200 pupils.

After doing the sod cutting honours, Councillor Bob Constable, the council’s cabinet member for education, said: “This is an exciting and historic day in the development of the new Newbattle campus.

“The replacement for the school has been much anticipated. As a council, we want to make sure we have a school and community facility that exceeds the requirements of today’s Curriculum for Excellence. We also want to provide great sport and leisure facilities that will benefit the school and the wider community.”

The building on the site of the Mayfield Complex will be 15,714sqm. As well as a high school, local people will benefit from a new library, gym, swimming pool, sports facilities (including all weather pitch) and a range of community facilities on campus.

The centre, work on which had been delayed because of European accounting issues, is being paid for with joint money from the council and through the Scottish Government’s Scotland’s Schools for the Future Programme.

Richard Park, operations director, hub South East, said: “It’s fantastic to reach the major milestone of construction in the development of the Newbattle Centre and we look forward to working with Midlothian Council to deliver a first-class, modern new high school, designed to meet the needs of pupils, staff and the local community.

“I’m especially excited to see this Hub project is already delivering community benefits such as work placements and training opportunities, and I’m delighted that these are benefiting local people in the Midlothian area.”

Jeff Thornton, construction manager for Morrison Construction, added: “This is an exciting new development for the communities of Mayfield, Easthouses, Newtongrange and Gorebridge, and Morrison Construction is delighted to be a part of it.

“The Newbattle Centre will provide a fantastic, modern environment for the community to enjoy and a stimulating learning environment for both staff and pupils.”