A FULL planning application for a flagship project that will bring a swimming pool and more to the Wee County is expected by the end of June.

The pre-application process for the Wellbeing Hub and Lochies School project has concluded with the programme remaining on schedule, elected members heard at Clackmannanshire Council's Thursday, May 16 meeting.

Officers told the chamber a full planning application, setting out the details for the development in the west of Alloa, is expected to be submitted by the end of June and will be heard at the Planning Committee later in October.

The Wellbeing Hub will include a swimming pool, with a vision for an inclusive, accessible and inspiring sport and leisure facility that improves the quality of life for Wee County communities.

The site will also be home to a new Lochies School, serving as a specialist provision for pupils who require a significant level of additional support to access learning.

Hub East Central Scotland, the local authority’s development partner, is finalising its Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stage 2 submission for the council to review and approve.

Known as the concept design stage, this will establish the functional baseline to allow the project to progress to the next stage of design and represents another milestone in the development.

At the meeting, Cllr Scott Harrison – spokesperson for sports, leisure and active living – said: “It's really pleasing to see this project reach another milestone, pre-application submitted and community engagement sessions having been held along with the online engagement.”

He added there will be more details coming forward as the project progresses to RIBA Stage 3, which will see design studies, engineering analysis and more.

As reported ahead of the meeting, consultation has been ongoing with communities with both statutory and wider events being held to give people the opportunity to find out more and to help inform the design.

Cllr Graham Lindsay, depute council leader, praised the “significant progress” which has been made.

He added: “Huge amount of engagement has been going on, with the [Lochies] school community and the young people as well around ensuring their needs are met every step of the way.”

Indeed, the head teacher from Lochies, along with members of the project team, in March visited Beatlie School in West Lothian, which opened in August last year for children with additional support needs.

The learning from this visit has also helped inform the designs for the new Lochies.

Ambitions are for construction to begin early next year.

The Wellbeing Hub is hoped to be complete by the end of 2026 and the school by the first quarter of 2027, along with external landscaping.