A turf-cutting ceremony took place to mark the start of construction work for a new £3 million development that will provide community facilities in Rattray, Blairgowrie.
The project will see a major extension to Rattray Primary School, providing a multi-purpose hall, changing facilities and community group rooms.
The development, which has been partly funded with grants from the Scottish Government, will give Perth and Kinross Council, and local groups and organisations, the opportunity to deliver activities for young people, indoor games and sports, health and wellbeing services, adult learning, parenting and family learning provision.
The local authority has also sought to deliver an environmentally-friendly facility, with the project having a biomass heating system linked into the existing primary school building.
It is anticipated that construction of the new facilities will be completed early in 2014.
Perth and Kinross Provost Liz Grant was accompanied by council leader Councillor Ian Miller, local elected members, pupils and staff from Rattray Primary School.
Provost Grant said it was a “very exciting day” for the community in Rattray.
“There will be all-round benefits for local residents,” she went on.
“The pupils at Rattray Primary will have enhanced physical education provision and the wider community will be able to make use of the hall and meeting rooms for a greater range of activities than has previously been possible.”
She continued: “Including the new community facility, the council has invested over £30 million in the Blairgowrie area in recent years and I am excited at the potential that this development offers for Rattray and its future.”
Mr Miller said: “The council recently agreed to take forward a range of regeneration measures for Blairgowrie and Rattray, including this new community facility.
“We have made a commitment to invest in infrastructure that improves the services we provide and the opportunities available to the people of Perth and Kinross and I am delighted that this important project is moving forward.”
Councillor Bob Band, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s lifelong learning committee, said: “This new facility will make a difference not only for pupils at Rattray Primary School, but also for young people, families and adult learners.
“I warmly welcome the improvements it will provide. It also reflects our ongoing commitment as a council, as recently shown in an inspection of the local learning community, to support the development of community capacity in the Blairgowrie and Rattray area.”
Neil Smyth, construction manager for Morrison Construction, said: “Morrison is delighted to be responsible for the project in Rattray another project in this very successful partnership with Perth and Kinross Council, and to mark the start of work with a traditional turf-cutting ceremony.
“We look forward to continuing this spirit of partnership and are confident that, with our experienced and dedicated site management team, we will deliver what we do best that is, building quality facilities.”