THIS is how a new £45 million high school at Wallyford could look when it opens its doors.

An online public exhibition on plans for a second high school for the rapidly expanding Musselburgh area, which would be home to nearly 1,000 pupils, gets under way on Monday.

Early proposals for a school and community learning facility, earmarked for land between Inchview Crescent and Futures Way at Wallyford, just north of the new Wallyford Primary School, have been lodged with East Lothian Council.

As well as offering the public an opportunity to comment on the proposals, the consultation will be the first time that artists’ impressions have been presented.

The name ‘Wallyford High School’ appears in the images – however, the council says that the school’s final name is still to be decided.

The new high school – which will serve the Musselburgh area in addition to Musselburgh Grammar School – will boast modern teaching and social spaces including specialist provision for young people with severe and complex needs.

There will be a dedicated Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM) centre and a Tots and Teens area.

Community spaces and a day centre for older people as well as new sports facilities are also planned.

The plans show a building designed to complement the new primary school with extensive glass, access to natural light and brick-clad facades.

Councillor Shamin Akhtar, East Lothian Council’s cabinet member for education and children’s services, said: “We’re pleased to share these proposals as part of the first stages of the planning process.

“The development was the result of extensive community consultation in the earliest stages of these discussions. It represents a significant investment in new facilities for learning, leisure and the community.

“I encourage everyone to view the proposals online and share their views through the consultation hub to shape our plans.”

East Lothian Council’s development partner Hub South East has arranged events to gain feedback on the proposals as an early stage of the planning process.

Comments gathered on the Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) will be used to inform the final planning application, which is expected to be submitted this November and will also be the subject of more detailed consultation.

A pre-application public event for the ‘New Learning Campus’ is being held, with the exhibition running online at eastlothianconsultations.co.uk until October 9. A live and interactive online consultation session also takes place on Wednesday, September 23, 2-8pm. To obtain an invitation to the event, email jm.wallyfordhs@jmarchitects.net

Those wishing to make comments on the proposals can do so during the events and/or in writing to the same email address no later than October 19.

Due to the impact of coronavirus on the construction sector, the school is not expected to open in August 2022 as had originally been planned.

A spokesperson said: “The council and its partners are revisiting schedules alongside school roll projections to develop a timescale for this development and further announcements will be shared as the planning process moves forward.”

The council’s five-year Capital Investment Programme set aside £45.83m for the development.

The project will receive funding from the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme.

Meanwhile, £808,000 has been set aside by the council for upgrades to Musselburgh Grammar School. Additionally, and following consultation with the grammar school, redevelopment of new toilets and social space, which was programmed for this autumn, will now take place from Easter 2021.

Colin Beattie, Musselburgh MSP, said: “I would encourage the public to engage with the consultation so the views of the community can be captured and the best possible consensus found.”

Ward councillor Colin McGinn said it was “really important that the community take as big a say in this as they can and offer their opinions”.

Musselburgh councillor Andy Forrest said he welcomed the consultation as it would “give people the opportunity to put their views forward and give input as to what they want”.

In April 2016, approval was given by the council to consult on the proposal to establish a new, additional secondary school in Wallyford.

A report on the public consultation revealed that of the 423 questionnaire responses received, a clear majority supported the proposal.

At that time it was stated that the new school would accommodate pupils from the catchment areas of Wallyford Primary School and Pinkie St Peter’s Primary School in Musselburgh.