The youngsters of Burntisland will have a new primary school by 2014 after final planning details for the project were approved by local councillors.
Construction at Toll Park could begin within weeks after members of the Kirkcaldy area committee approved plans for the £12.5 million complex at a meeting.
Although planning permission in principle had been granted last summer, final approval was given yesterday in a move that will transform education provision for children in the town and the surrounding area.
Burntisland councillor George Kay said it was a landmark moment for the community, adding: “I’m quite emotional about this going through.
“This is the last part of a jigsaw that has taken eight years to get to this stage.
“Our next meeting will probably take place in St Joseph’s Church and when we walk out we will look at Toll Park and see the earth movers working, so that the children of Burntisland will have a school fit for their future.
“To me it’s tremendous. Parents and pupils are desperate for this school to take place.”
The new school will replace the existing primary which consists of several buildings some of which date back to 1876.
The new complex will consist of three wings, each over two storeys, connected to a main building that will house the school hall.
A full-size football pitch will remain on site at Toll Park, despite fears this would be lost with the construction of the school. Planning officers have also moved to allay fears over potential drainage problems at the site.
Running adjacent to a burn, concerns had been expressed over the possibility of flooding, although provision will be made to prevent this.
Councillor Susan Leslie said: “We are making a huge improvement to this area.
“The public access will still be there 50% of the site will still have public access and there will still be a football pitch. We don’t want to put at the door of the application a lot of problems that exist already.”
However, the application for the school proved controversial in some quarters, with a pressure group, Best4Burntisland, having argued that more suitable sites were available.
The group took its case to the ombudsman last year but this was rejected.