Plans for Melksham’s multi-million pound Community Campus will be submitted before the end of year, after they were formally approved by councillors.

The Melksham Area Board unanimously agreed on the designs for the campus, which will incorporate a new sports centre, swimming pool and library at Melksham House, at Wednesday’s Area Board meeting.

More than 300 people visited exhibitions around the town, and gave over 30 comments on the plans.

Lucy Murray-Brown, Wiltshire Council’s head of campus operational delivery models, answered questions from the public.

She said: “It’s about showing the concept, and making sure we haven’t missed anything important, and for people to have their say.”

The finalised plans include indoor and outdoor bowls provision, with the Campus becoming the county’s main hub for the game.

She also confirmed the sports hall would be smaller than the hall at the Christie Miller sports centre. She said: “There is a standard four badminton courts, within the context of leisure provision in the county.

“There will be a larger sports hall for the Trow-bridge area, bearing in mind it is the county town.”

If the application is approved, work will start next summer, with the weekly luncheon clubs in Melksham House moving to the Assembly Hall on January 7.

An application will also be submitted this week for the combined football and rugby ground at Woolmoore Farm, with both clubs due to leave Melksham House by December 2014.

Area Board chairman Councillor Jon Hubbard said: “We will start to see real things happening shortly.”