A bid to build a new Madras College in St Andrews could face more delays, even if a legal challenge goes in favour of Fife Council.
Those campaigning against the £42.7 million plan to build the school at Pipeland could go to the UK Supreme Court if the Court of Session rules against them.
The council insists Pipeland is the only suitable and available site. Planning permission was granted in May 2014.
St Andrews Environmental Protection Association Limited (Stepal) say the local authority was wrong to rule out North Haugh as an alternative site.
A decision is awaited.
Asked if work was ready to start, council leader David Ross said: “The advice I am getting from legal officers is there is still a further opportunity potentially for appeal. It would be a risk going forward with that work in case there is a further appeal.
“I certainly hope that if the appeal goes in our favour from this latest judicial review, the people backing the alternative site will concede we are in the right and will withdraw with good grace and let us get on and build the school.”
Stepal, whose directors are former Madras College rector and teachers Lindsay Matheson, Sandra Thomson and Mary Jack, confirmed it could lodge a further appeal but said it was inappropriate to comment further on this until the judges’ opinion is known.
A statement from the directors said: “Stepal does not wish to prevent the construction of a new school, but in the interests of all Madras pupils who would be educated there during the lifetime of the school, considers that this should be well located for the majority of its pupils, be sustainable and not needlessly damage the environment.”