PLANS for a new-build primary in the west of the city have been expanded to include community facilities.

Glasgow City Council is using Scottish Future’s Trust funding to build the new Blairdardie and Carntyne primaries.

Now Blairdardie will have an extra £2.4million spent to create sports facilities that can be used by locals.

Liz Cameron, Executive Member for Children, Young People & Lifelong Learning, said: “It is wonderful that the community in Blairdardie will not only be benefitting from a new school but also the improved leisure facilities.

“The enhanced provision will mean that the school pupils will be able to use as part of their learning and with community use out with school hours - how wonderful is that?”

A new primary school is being built to replace the current Blairdardie Primary as part of the education estate strategy, 4Rs for Glasgow, now in its fourth year.

While developing plans for Blairdardie, which will be built on a football pitch adjacent to the current school, staff from Education Estates and Glasgow Life spotted an opportunity to enhance the school facilities for community use.

Currently, there are three pitches next to the school, which are serviced from a run-down pavilion that acts as a hall for community and sport activities such as dance and badminton.

New plans will see a full sized 11-a-side 3G synthetic pitch with four new team changing rooms as well as a four-court sports hall - replacing a two-court - with internal changing rooms.

Pupils would use the facilities during the school day with locals being allowed to use them in the evenings and at weekends.

When the new school is completed the pavilion would be demolished and the ground reused.

Full time Glasgow Life staff currently operating the pavilion would be redeployed, reducing costs for running the site.

The Evening Times first told in January last year how Blairdardie and Carntyne primaries were two of 19 across Scotland sharing £230m of the latest phase of the £1.8bn funding from the Schools for the Future programme.

The design teams and contractors have both been appointed for Blairdardie and Carntyne and planning applications submitted for both sites.

Plans will go before councillors at executive committee on Thursday for consideration.