A £17 MILLION building that will merge a school that is split over two sites is expected to be given the go-ahead by Swindon Council tomorrow night.

Councillors at the planning meeting have been advised by planning officers to grant permission to St Joesph's School's plan to demolish the lower school in Queens Drive and erect a new building on the site.

St Joseph's opened as a school for pupils aged 11 to 15 in 1958, on the site that became the Lower School.

The school has been split over two sites since it combined with St Thomas More School and opened as a single institution in 1965.

The Upper School, which is based in Nythe Road, will be demolished and the site is expected to be sold for housing, with the cash being used to fund the new accommodation.

Speaking ahead of the meeting headteacher Peter Wells said: "This is very good news for all at the school, we are a good school that gets good results and this is only going to help.

"The town's education system has gone through a series of difficulties in the past but this is another sign things are getting better.

"This is the biggest investment ever by the Clifton Diocese and there is a lot of work ahead but it will all be worth it."

The new school will face east with a new junction built to provide access to cars from Ocotal Way.

The building has been designed to maximise energy efficiency and provide a safe and friendly environment with teaching flexibility.

Classrooms will be arranged around a main walkway called The Street, a covered space that will be the main social area and for movement between lessons.

The rest of the classrooms will be contained within two L-shaped blocks that create three courtyards.

The planning permission will include a sports hall, all weather sports pitch, football, rugby, cricket and athletics facilities, three basketball courts and six tennis courts.

Despite the project being one of the most expensive new school schemes the town has ever seen, it is expected to cost the council next to nothing.

The authority has agreed to pay £1 million, but that is expected to be covered by its share in the sale of the Upper School site to developers.

The Clifton Diocese will give £7 million towards the school and the final £9 million will come from the Department for Education and Skills.