A PLANNING application to build a new primary school on the playing field of St Joseph’s Catholic College has been submitted to Swindon Council.

In order to meet growing demand for primary school places in the town centre, the council needs to provide an extra 30 reception places a year by 2014 and the same again by 2016, due to a rise in births.

Two sites, which were whittled down from a possible five, went out to a statutory public consultation last year and in December the Cabinet identified the unused section of playing field, off Queens Drive, as its preferred option.

Now St Joseph’s, which held an informal consultation with parents and other residents in February, has submitted the plans to the council’s planning department.

Coun Fionuala Foley, the cabinet member for children services, said: “I’m delighted the planning application is in and everything is moving forward with the school, because obviously there’s a pressure in the town centre for primary school places.

“And I’m delighted that St Joseph’s are going ahead with this venture.”

The final site choices were either a new school on land once used as a council depot, off County Road, or the expansion of St Joseph’s Catholic College on to the unused section of the school field. Broadgreen Community Centre, in Salisbury Street, was ruled out as a potential site earlier in the process.

Pam Freegard, a member of the Broad Street Area Community Council, which campaigned against the option to use Broadgreen Community Centre site, said St Joseph’s was the ideal site in terms of access and providing much-needed places at a Catholic school.

“I think it’s the best place to have it built,” she said.

“You have got plenty of room for buses to go in and pick the children up, and more for parents to park. “If you put it in the other places, we haven’t got any room for parking or anything.”

In February, St Joseph’s principal Maureen Harries said: “We are incredibly pleased to be selected as the site for the new primary school in central Swindon and would like to thank both Swindon Council and the Clifton Diocese for all their help throughout the selection process.

“St. Joseph’s will be one of the first Catholic academy schools in the country to offer education from four years old all the way through to 19, and we are looking forward to welcoming our first intake of reception children in 2014.

“St Joseph’s Catholic College believes this offers a first class educational opportunity for the children of Swindon and we welcome applicants to the primary school from families living in our catchment area.”