A new Madras College at Langlands would need to form part of a masterplan for the western expansion of St Andrews, it has been revealed.
The layout of the school, including access arrangements off the A91, would be considered as part of the plan.
Education chiefs believe the site is better placed to provide a new Madras College than any other area of the town, although three other pieces of land are still being considered and detailed assessments will be carried out.
Shelagh McLean, interim head of education and children’s services, said the university-owned Langlands site could offer educational benefits over and above that of a new school anywhere else.
It was announced last week that Fife Council hopes to buy the land and is in the final stages of negotiations with St Andrews University.
This could bring to an end decades of wrangling over a suitable site for the secondary school.
Remodelling the existing Kilrymont building or creating a new school on that site has also been mooted but it would mean decanting pupils to South Street for two years.
Additional sites have been identified at Craigtoun Road and Strathkinness High Road but it is not yet known whether either of the owners are willing to sell to the council.
Nine other sites were looked at and dismissed, including Pipeland which a Scottish Government reporter ruled should be retained as greenbelt land — although it could be reconsidered if the other options are ultimately ruled unsuitable.
In a report to go to the council’s executive committee on Tuesday, Ms McLean said Langlands was not owned by Fife Council but acquisition in principle had been agreed with the university.
“The site forms part of the Strategic Development Area (SDA) and any layout for the school would need to be considered when the master plan is prepared by the university and its consortia partners,” she said.
“There can be educational advantage in co-locating a new Madras College close to the campus of the University of St Andrews, with several key areas for academic development focusing on the sciences, arts and social sciences.”
She added: “Provided that the proposed new school could be satisfactorily accommodated within, and be compatible with, the required masterplan for the area, then there does not appear to be any substantive issues with regard to availability, affordability, feasibility or deliverability identified at this stage.”
