Multi-million pound Galashiels and Peebles school replacement bids agreed

Plans to replace Galashiels Academy would cost more than £50m

Funding bids have been agreed for two replacement secondary schools in the Borders.

The local authority hopes to build new facilities at Galashiels Academy and Peebles High School - which was badly damaged by fire last year.

The plans in Galashiels have been priced at £55.5m and include a replacement swimming pool for the town.

Proposals in Peebles are estimated at about £40m with some of the funding coming from an insurance settlement.

Peebles High School was badly damaged by fire last year

A report to councillors said the Scottish government had sought an update on the council's learning estate investment plans last month.

A response is to be submitted by 13 October.

It has identified Galashiels and Peebles as "priority projects" with proposals for Hawick High School at an earlier stage of development.

• Pupils return to classroom after major school fire

• High school fire damage 'pretty horrendous'

• School building condition rated 'poor'

Councillors agreed to endorse the submission of the plans to the Scottish government.

The Galashiels project would see the construction of a new secondary with a school roll of 1,000.

It would also include an additional special needs unit for 50 pupils and a hydrotherapy pool as well as a swimming pool.

In Peebles, the biggest secondary school in the region is being proposed with capacity for 1,400 students.

It is hoped both projects could be completed by 2025.