PLANS for a long-awaited primary school for a new Trowbridge estate could be given the go- ahead next week.

The scheme to build a 210-place school to serve the new Paxcroft Mead estate is expected to be approved by Wiltshire county councillors on Wednesday.

When finished, the estate will have around 1,300 houses and 403 primary age children who cannot be squeezed in to the surrounding schools.

The new school, in Hilperton Drive, will initially have seven classes, and will be built so it can be expanded to 14 classes providing 420 places, as the estate grows.

The catchment area for the new school is being negotiated, and the county council is also preparing contract details so it can open as scheduled in September next year. Developers Gallagher Estates are contributing around £1m to the expected £1.2m cost.

Now the county education committee is being asked to agree proposals for the geographical division of the area between the new school and surrounding primaries.

A report from chief education officer Bob Wolfson suggests the new catchment area should include seven homes at the eastern end of Hilperton Road, Lavender Close, Magnolia Rise, Jasmine Way, Honeysuckle Close and Broadcloth Lane East from Paxcroft Primary to Longmeadow Primary; and Paxcroft Mead to the new school.

There are plans too for a small supermarket, shops, hall, pub and play group.