Work on the new £8 million Whitfield primary school is now under way.
The school will replace Whitfield and Newfields primaries both of which are operating at less than 40% capacity.
The school, being built on a site north of Summerfield Avenue, will also house the Whitfield community early-years centre. Facilities at the new three-stream primary school will include 21 classrooms, an 80-place nursery, gym hall, drama and stage venues, a music room, group rooms and breakout spaces.
It is being built by construction company Robertson and should be ready to welcome pupils in spring 2012.
Dundee City Council education convener Liz Fordyce, representatives from Robertson and other local authority officers gathered at the site on Wednesday to mark the beginning of the project.
The council allocated £11.5 million for the project but was able to revise the figure downwards after the difficult economic conditions saw companies tender competitive bids.
Robertson’s spokesman Sean O’Callaghan said, “We are delighted to be in attendance today to mark the start of this exciting project. Robertson has a long history working in partnership with Dundee City Council.”
Ms Fordyce said, “The construction of a new primary school for Whitfield will bring much-needed contracts for local firms and economic activity at a very difficult time.” She said the reduced figure would not affect the quality of facilities provided.