A major proposal for a new Largs Academy, co-located on the site of Inverclyde Sports Centre, offers a massive opportunity for the future of our children, according to depute leader of North Ayrshire Council Alan Hill.

North Ayrshire Council Cabinet is to consider the £30m project when it meets next Wednesday for replacing Largs Academy with a modern, fit-for-purpose school, and following consultation with a wide range of interested parties, a final school model will be presented later this year to take forward.

NAC are keen to stress that the concept is at a very early stage and it is proposed that these early talks with interested parties will help shape the development. Rumours that the greenbelt site next to Alexander Avenue in Largs had been considered for the new Academy have not come to fruition, as the council have confirmed that the development for the new campus would actually be based at the main Inverclyde Sports Centre site.

Approval is being sought at next week’s Cabinet meeting to progress plans for the new school campus to be developed in partnership with sportscotland and built alongside the national sports centre, and for options to be explored for the future delivery of early years and primary school provision in the town. A new Largs Academy would be built and open for use in 2018 it is hoped, if the proposal gets the green light following the end of the consultation at the end of September.

There is also the opportunity for local primary schools and early years to be accommodated within the new super school, and talks are also underway with Largs based primaries concerning such an option.

An early pre-consultation engagement exercise would enable the council to hear the views of all interested parties – including parent councils and staff - right at the outset.

These initial discussions will help inform and influence the council in developing more detailed options for further consideration by the council Cabinet in September, and say a full, formal and robust public consultation would then take place.

The unique and ambitious project is subject to the Scottish Futures Trust approving funds and to sportscotland securing additional finance for the redevelopment of the Inverclyde centre to establish it as a world class sporting facility.

Cllr Hill said: “This could be the biggest thing to happen to Largs in decades. Not only would it provide a first class school facility which would be able to take advantage of the top facilities at Inverclyde, but it would also cement the future of the sports centre as well. There is the possibility for Largs Academy to be like Bellahouston in Glasgow, and could be a school for sport. This is a unique opportunity which offers massive possibilities, and is too good to lose.” The pre-consultation process will include meetings with staff representative groups and the parent councils of all schools in Largs as well as those of Cumbrae, Fairlie and Skelmorlie Primaries – whose pupils would attend the proposed new secondary school. Talks have also opened with the Roman Catholic Church in relation to St Mary’s, and other local schools, which will be offered the chance to join the campus.

Every parent and member of staff with an interest in the proposal will receive a letter this week with information about the early pre-consultation phase of engagement.

Councillor John Bruce, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “What a golden opportunity we have here to present Largs with a brand new, state-of-the-art campus which will be part of Scotland’s top sports training centre.

“I think we have to grasp this fantastic opportunity with both hands. Having two excellent facilities side by side would be a great boost to the educational and sports prospects of everyone in Largs.

“If Cabinet approval is given, I would urge as many people as possible to share in the good news by getting involved in the consultation process.

“This would be an all-embracing exercise in two distinct stages – the first pre-consultation phase will help us understand exactly what people want and the second, more detailed consultation will enable us to examine the options fully with input from all interested parties.

“I hope the Cabinet give the go-ahead next Wednesday so that we can get down to business straight away.” Stuart Ogg, sportscotland’s Director of Corporate Services added: “We are developing a strategy to secure the future success of the sportscotland National Sports Training Centre as an inclusive venue encompassing a wide range of sports and physical activities.

“Options are being explored in collaboration with North Ayrshire Council and other organisations to potentially redevelop and improve key components of the centre – subject to receiving additional investment – with the objective of enhancing Inverclyde’s contribution to the development of a world-class sporting system in Scotland.”