While seen as an urgent necessity by HMIE inspectors who have twice damned accommodation at the Kilrymont Road and South Street high school, it is regarded by Fife Council as just one of a number of key projects to be prioritised.

The council has pledged funding to develop business cases for three new high schools in Fife, including Madras.

The sum of £500,000 in 2009-10 and a further £500,000 the following year is being put towards developing a business case for the new Madras.

While five or six possible 10-hectare sites have been identified as suitable in St Andrews, Alan Paul, the council's asset manager, pointed out Madras was part of a "bigger picture" and ways of finding the additional £29 million needed to complete the new building would form part of the business case put before councillors.

Ian Robertson, head of the asset and facilities management services, warned that a business case could bring forward a recommendation that a project should not progress.

In the case of a new Madras College, however, the message to the council from HMIE inspectors is that something has to be done — and done quickly.

Mr Paul said councillors' political commitment was that all three new high schools would happen, but sequencing the projects would be driven by practical rather than political issues.

In the case of the new Madras, the Fife Structure Plan and St Andrews and District Local Plan would first have to be approved.

"The elected members have made a real commitment in writing to replace Madras, but that can't happen tomorrow," he said.

"There is a significant gestation period associated with the development of a high school and we have now embarked on the first stage of that."

Local Liberal Democrat councillors have expressed their delight at the council's commitment to replace Madras.

In a statement, Tay Bridgehead councillors Tim Brett and Maggie Taylor and St Andrews councillors Robin Waterston, Frances Melville and Bill Sangster said: "This is a very significant investment which will hugely benefit future generations of young people in north east Fife.

"Whilst we would all hope to see rapid progress being made with a new school it will be important that all aspects are examined carefully and the best decisions taken in conjunction with parent councils, staff, pupils and other interested groups.

"We shall have to exercise a degree of patience while the planning process proceeds."