THE development of the new Largs Campus reached a major milestone last Monday afternoon.

And the ‘Topping Out’ ceremony was a very special occasion for two local families who will now be ‘in with the bricks’ at the new facility.

The Trotters and Wilsons won a competition to have their names engraved on bricks that will ensure they are always part of this wonderful new facility.

And the two bricks were laid in a wall on-site by North Ayrshire Provost Ian Clarkson during the ceremony.

Katie (11), Sophie (8) and Rory Trotter (5) attend Kelburn Primary, while Poppy Wilson (10) also attends the same school.

The ‘Topping Out’ milestone celebrates the building being wind and water tight and is another exciting step as the countdown to the official opening next year gathers pace.

Provost Clarkson said: “It is always an honour to be involved in such an ambitious project that is going to make a real difference to the lives of our young people.

“It was a great idea to involve the two families as this is very much a facility for the community. Now we are at the ‘Topping Out’ stage, we’re all really looking forward to the official opening next year.”

The new Largs campus will accommodate a relocated Largs Academy, along with a relocated St Mary’s RC Primary School and amalgamated Brisbane and Kelburn Primary School. It will also be the base for a new early years centre.

The ongoing partnership with sportscotland means the young people will also have access to some of their top-class sporting facilities.

Work started last October and construction is on schedule and due to be completed by March 2018. Pupils are due to move in shortly after.

Cllr John Bell, Cabinet Member for Education and Youth Employment, said: “This is another big step for this fantastic development and we are all delighted with the progress being made.

“We are determined to give every child in North Ayrshire the opportunity to reach their potential. Facilities like the new Largs Campus will certainly help us achieve that.

“It will be a flagship educational facility that will provide opportunities for new experiences across all age groups. We are sure it will be a vibrant and sustainable learning centre for the whole community, within and outwith school hours.”

Councillor Jim Montgomerie, Cabinet Member for Place, said: “The Topping Out ceremony is an important milestone in construction phase as the building approaches the stage of wind and water tightness, and the final bricks are laid in place.

“All the teams involved are working incredibly hard and it’s fantastic to see everything is on schedule. A huge well done to everyone involved in the construction process.”

Largs Campus is part of North Ayrshire Council’s biggest ever Capital Investment Programme which will see improvements for school estate worth £140 million, delivered over the next 10 years, with around £50m for the new Largs Campus, £32m for a new education facility in Ardrossan and £25 million for a new-build Additional Support Needs School.

The Largs Campus project has been developed in partnership with Hub South West, Morrison Construction Scotland and Forth Electrical Services (FES).

Michael McBrearty, Chief Executive of Development Partner hub South West Scotland added: “It’s fantastic to be able to invite the local community and pupils from the schools involved in this project onto the Largs Campus site, and give people the opportunity to see the excellent progress being made.

“This special event further reiterates this new development as a true community campus which will have a positive effect in the area for generations to come.”