The main construction phase for the new Paisley Grammar School is expected to begin next month – after a works contract was given the green light.

The state-of-the-art development, which will be built on land next to the former Chivas administration building in Renfrew Road, will replace the ageing secondary school in Glasgow Road.

Renfrewshire Council is hopeful the modern facility – which will have sports pitches and a 300-seat theatre, as well as becoming the first Passivhaus school in the local authority – will be ready to open in the summer of 2026.

Passivhaus buildings provide a high level of occupant comfort using very little energy for heating and cooling.

An agreement – worth up to £74.7 million, excluding VAT – was approved by the finance, resources and customer services policy board on Thursday and will see Galliford Try Construction, trading as Morrison Construction Scotland, continue with the major project.

A date of possession has been earmarked for Monday, June 17, with the works expected to be completed by Friday, June 12, 2026. However, this will be confirmed in the council’s letter of acceptance.

Councillor Graeme Clark, Labour representative for Paisley Northeast and Ralston, told the board he was “delighted” the local authority was “moving ahead” with the contract for the new school.

A report to the board explained: “The appointed contractor and their design team will deliver Renfrewshire’s first school building to be constructed to Passivhaus standard.

“This methodology was adopted to comply with the Scottish Futures Trust’s requirement for LEIP [learning estate investment programme] phase two funded schools to be constructed to a high level of quality with low levels of energy consumption during its life cycle.”

Enabling works, largely ground improvements, have been carried out at the location after a contract was approved at the board on Thursday, February 8.

Earlier this month, it was confirmed the overall budget for the project will rise from £75.1m to £85.5m amid inflationary pressures in the school construction market.

A report to full council on Thursday, May 9, explained this will result in increased borrowing costs of £500,000 per annum – £300,000 of which is expected to be funded through LEIP allocation.