THE new 'green' £40 million Dunfermline High School will be heated by the sun, use rainwater to flush loos and boast a wind turbine described as a "sculptural landmark".

There will also be 'solar shading' to prevent overheating in summer, monitors in all classrooms to ensure a balanced supply of fresh air and water-saving devices.

Architects drew up plans for an environmentally-friendly new school to replace the current run-down buildings after hearing community views, including those from pupils and staff at Dunfermline High.

A planning application has now been submitted to Fife Council and it could be given the 'green' light in the summer.

Headteacher Brian Blanchflower said, "We are really excited about these plans and hope that the local community will be supportive.

"The proposed design will not only create an amazing school building but will provide a fabulous community resource which can be enjoyed and utilised by many more people.

"The design which the architects have created reflects very well the design brief created by the students and staff involved and will lead to a top class school building which we will all feel very honoured to be a part of." The design incorporates space for a sports hall, two gyms, a dance studio, assembly hall, mini theatre workshop, library and conference accommodation as well as the teaching wings.

Work is expected to start in the autumn and the school, to be built next to the existing building, should be completed by autumn 2012.

The design for the school has the classrooms set out in three faculty wings, linking to a "central three storey internal street" running the full length of the building.

The other side of the street is glazed with the three teaching wings connecting in to it and a series of balconies and fly-over bridges link the spaces at various levels.

Renewable energy is a big part of the plans and 40 per cent of the heating will be from renewable sources.

As well as solar panels and collecting rainwater, there will be a "vertical spindle wind turbine" to deliver electricity to different parts of the campus. Lighting and heating will be "zoned" to reduce energy use and environmentally sound materials will include timber from sustainable sources while they'll avoid toxic materials.

Councillor Douglas Chapman, chair of the education and children's services committee, said, "This is one of the biggest investments ever made in Fife schools. "One of the key requirements was that the schools being built would be fit for a 21st century education.

"The design for the new Dunfermline High School fits that requirement and beyond, looking to provide first class school and community accommodation, not just for this generation, but for the generations that will follow.

"We have been consulting at length with our young people on the designs for these new schools and the overriding request from them was that the schools be environmentally-friendly. "If this design is agreed by the planning committee we can proudly say that we have honoured their request."