The details of a new school to be built as part of the expansion of Swindon to the east will be discussed and decided upon by councillors.

The academies trust run by the Church of England Diocese of Bristol already has permission to build a school at the heart of the Redlands village, part of the major New Eastern Villages expansion scheme.

Now councillors must approve the details of the school’s appearance and layout.

The application by the church shows the school, which it would appear to want to name All Saints C of E School, would be sited directly on the square in the centre of the village and be a central part of the community.

The church says: “The expectation is that the village square will have a contemporary quality, being distinctive yet feeling comfortable with the surrounding context and residential development areas.

"It will be the culmination in the users’ experience of the scheme, alongside the village green, forming a natural hub and meeting place, with the adjacency of the school, retail store and play areas.”

The application continues that making the square, and the school, “a special place” will be important, and achieved by “a clean and contemporary aesthetic, with the potential to draw on vernacular or barn roof forms where appropriate to add interest when viewed more widely.

A high-quality hardscape that will be distinct from the neighbourhood areas, so users feel they are entering a special place.”

It says the school will be a: “key location for artwork and a gathering point, with artwork, landscaping, seating and hardscape carefully coordinated.”

The plans also show the school will be set out in the shape of a cross, like many churches are.

A combined dining and assembly hall would be at the ‘head’ with the main entrance and offices at one end of the shorter cross price and classrooms running down both sides of the long piece of the cross.

The grounds on the other side of the school from the village square would feature a soft informal play area, a space for a forest school, traditional sports pitches, a hard surfaced multi-games area and a green habitat area.

The application was ‘called in’ to committee by Wanborough Parish Council which says it was disappointed the school “has been designed more in keeping with an urban area rather than a rural setting".

Notwithstanding, the borough council’s planning officers have recommended the committee approves the plan.

The meeting begins at 6pm on Tuesday (November 14) in the council chamber at the Euclid Street civic offices.

Members of the public are entitled to attend.