WORK on a new primary school at the heart of a major housing development will get under way early next year.

More than 800 homes are being built at Letham Mains, between Haddington’s West Road and the A6093.

Plans for the site were given the go-ahead by East Lothian Council in the summer of 2015, with blueprints for a new primary school also approved at the same time.

The school – provisionally named Letham Primary School – will be created towards the north of the site.

A spokeswoman for East Lothian Council said: “The design work is progressing and work is expected to start around February 2019.

“The estimated completion date is 2020.”

Most of the school building will be over two storeys, apart from a section to the south.

The school will include 14 classrooms, dining hall and “other facilities to be expected in a modern school of this size”.

According to the planning officer’s report: “A hard-surfaced play area would be formed immediately to the west of the building, with a grassed play area provided further to the west.

“The outdoor play area for the nursery would be provided immediately to the south of the nursery part of the building.

“An all-weather pitch and a hard surfaced multi-use games area (MUGA) would be formed within part of the southern end of the application site.”

A car park with 31 spaces, including spaces for disabled visitors, will also be created.

The planning officer’s report notes that space has been left for a potential extension of the school to cope with an increased school roll.

Currently, plans are being drawn up for 275 homes to the south-west of the Letham Mains site, with youngsters from those houses also set to go to the new school.

However, children living at new housing developments at Gateside and Dovecot will not go to the school.

The council spokeswoman said: “The catchment area for the new primary school will be Letham Mains development, with houses in Gateside and elsewhere in Haddington remaining in the current catchment area of the soon-to-be merged Haddington Infant and King’s Meadow Primary.”

An announcement is due to be made later this month outlining who the main contractor will be for the scheme.

Councillor Shamin Akhtar, Haddington and Lammermuir ward member, is the local authority’s spokeswoman for education and children’s services.

She said: “It’s good news to hear of the progress that is being made on Letham Primary School in Haddington.

“This will be a new school that will provide even more educational opportunities for our children and young people, as well as the local community.”