A NEW high school is likely to get the go-ahead next week to give Bromsgrove a "proud and striking civic building."

A report to the planning committee on Monday says the building to replace South Bromsgrove High School in Charford Road could be enjoyed by the whole community when it is built as part of a four-year £60m education redevelopment.

A major report has looked into all aspects of the PFI application put in by HBG Construction Midlands Ltd and the committee members are being recommended to approve the whole scheme.

It also involves building a school to the south east of Perryfields Road, combining Parkside Middle and Meadows First and also a new high school to replace North Bromsgrove.

The new South Bromsgrove High School is planned as rectangular with wings off a central space, finished with a mixture of brick and render and with the windows in powder-coated aluminium. The main entrance is to have a 10-metre full height glazed screen with an entrance canopy, the report says. It will also have extra sports facilities and landscaping.

"The scheme and particularly its well landscaped setting is likely to provide a proud and striking civic building to be enjoyed by all the community," the report says.

The new 300-pupil first school is also planned for community use and will have a library, halls, dance studio and music and changing rooms which can be cut off from the main school.

Outdoor areas will provide the opportunity to "play, relax and learn," the report says, but the "pinwheel" design could be improved. The committee will be told its proposed appearance is "functional" and lacks any innovation or distinctiveness, but the landscaping should adequately screen it.

The committee will also be told more could be done with the visual appearance of North Bromsgrove. The site is being studied for the impact on wildlife. Bats, newts and badgers are all being studied and the whole building project could be halted if bats are found to roost anywhere on the site.

All the plans are set to be given the go-ahead.