A NEW school for Taw Hill has been given the green light.

The site of St Francis' School, off Queen Elizabeth Drive, was originally to feature a new church but a revised scheme has scaled back plans to include only a primary school, nursery, car parking and a playing field.

The site of the church has been partially prepared and will be landscaped to allow a church to be built if the funds ever come available.

The new school will serve the Taw Hill community, and councillors at a Swindon Council planning meeting were told construction materials would allow the school to be easily enlarged.

Coun Charles Lister (Con Abbey, Meads) said he was pleased the school had been given the go-ahead.

He said: "I am delighted Taw Hill is going ahead but the fact it is a denominational school will mean it will not have a huge effect on school places in the area, as it will attract children from other parts of the town."