A PRIMARY school and church are set to be built as part of Swindon's Northern Area Development.

Housed within a single cross-shaped building, the new structure will form part of the proposed Taw Hill Village Centre and is set to open in September next year.

Plans for the new school, which is being funded by the Church of England, will go before Swindon Council's planning committee tomorrow evening.

Sited on the eastern side of the proposed village centre, the new dual use building will measure 70 by 61 metres.

The church will be housed in the northern arm of the building and have seating for 166 people. It will also include two meeting rooms, a kitchen, an office, a vestry and toilets.

A set of double doors will allow the church area to be used independently of the school.

The school will occupy the rest of the building and will include nursery, infant and junior school classrooms, together with an assembly hall.

A netball court, a playing field and football pitch will be set to the south of the school.

The school and church are the first of several buildings on the site. Others will include shops, a doctors' surgery and a nursery.