Breakthrough in 11-year Madras College wrangle

St Andrews school looks likely to be built at Langlands as negotiations bear fruit

The long-running battle to create a new Madras College in St Andrews could finally be approaching a conclusion with the declaration of a breakthrough.

The new £40 million secondary school looks very likely to be built at Langlands in the west of the town after months of intense negotiations between Fife Council and St Andrews University.

Yesterday’s surprise announcement by council leader David Ross has been universally hailed as a significant step forward for St Andrews and future generations of school children.

It follows an 11-year saga which saw previous negotiations with the university for the site break down in 2011, and a second option for Pipeland thrown out by the Court of Session earlier this year.

If the deal is concluded, it will mean the local authority will take over the university-owned land to provide a single-site school.

Madras is currently split between two sites on South Street and Kilrymont, both of which are in need of extensive investment.

It is believed the university will acquire the South Street building, worth around £3.5 million, as part of the deal.

Mr Ross said: “Very positive progress has been made in exploring the potential to take forward a site for the new Madras at St Andrews University land at Langlands and ensuring the future of the Madras College site in South Street for educational purposes.

“On the basis of these discussions, I believe we can now progress matters to a positive conclusion and that, subject to the proper consideration by both parties, this would enable us to take forward the development of a new school at Langlands.”

Further details will be revealed at a meeting of the council’s executive committee on December 13.

Mr Ross praised university principal Professor Sally Mapstone as being instrumental in ensuring the discussions were positive.

Prof Mapstone confirmed the position, saying: “Should our ongoing discussions reach a positive formal conclusion, we anticipate that this will provide a new school for St Andrews as quickly as possible and ensure that the existing Madras College site in South Street can continue to be an important focus for education in Fife.”

North-east Fife MP Stephen Gethins and MSP Willie Rennie both welcomed the news as extremely positive.

Mr Gethins said: “We have waited far too long for the school, and I hope we can now look forward to ensuring that a new, fit-for-purpose Madras College is built as soon as possible.”

Mr Rennie said: “Local people will be breathing a collective sigh of relief.

“There is some way to go yet, but the prospect of a top class school for St Andrews and north-east Fife is tantalisingly close.”