Progress on a primary school at East Lothian’s new town has taken a step forward after developers handed over land to the council.

Blindwells Primary School is set to be built in time for the 2024 academic year, serving the 1,600 homes constructed as part of the first phase of development.

The school will initially have 14 classrooms for 420 pupils and an early learning centre for about 100 youngsters.

It is expected that the first intake of children will join for the 2024/25 school year.

The land is being being developed by Hargreaves Land, which aims to deliver a new community toEast Lothian with its own dedicated town centre and services.

Numerous housing developers have already built homes on the former opencast coal mine site that lies situated between Tranent, Prestonpans and Cockenzie and Port Seton by the Bankton Junction of the A1.

The developer said in its April newsletter: “Hargreaves Land has successfully delivered the access road as well as the serviced platform site for the proposed Primary School at Blindwells.

“We are delighted to have now handed this parcel of land over to East Lothian Council, who will commence construction of the new school in the coming months.

“Hub South East Scotland will be undertaking the construction works.”

An East Lothian Council spokesperson added: “Land for the primary school has been transferred to the council by developers Hargreaves Land.

“Technical work is progressing with the project team and we continue to work with our development partner Hub South East.

“We’ll be able to provide further details on the delivery timelines following the completion of this work.”