Major redevelopment for White City school envisaged – alongside new housing

By Ben Lynch, Local Democracy Reporter

A scheme is progressing to redevelop a school in Shepherd’s Bush with new buildings and up to 360 flats.

The multi-academy trust Future Academies and property company London Square are looking to revamp Phoenix Academy, with the proposed homes to be delivered in blocks up to 12 storeys tall.

The emerging plans were revealed in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report submitted to Hammersmith and Fulham council.

These are filed as a precursor to the full EIA included as part of a planning application, and provide an indicative overview of what is envisaged for the site.

The existing school, a coeducational secondary school and sixth form located by the White City estate, in The Curve, consists of a range of buildings constructed between the 1950s and 2010s.

In the EIA report, the applicants described the current educational offer as ‘severely compromised’ due to unsuitable facilities. An example was given of there being multiple single sports halls, but no large hall.

“The buildings have been refurbished and developed piecemeal over the past 70 years, with new blocks added without due consideration to a masterplan,” the report read.

“An estimation of the cost to comprehensively refurbish and remove existing asbestos containing material from all the existing buildings identified that it would be in excess of £30 million.”

To help fund an upgrade in teaching and learning facilities, the Trust determined a sale of a portion of land for homes was deemed necessary.

“Without this external funding, the Trust would be unable to afford the cost of the significant historic backlog in maintenance, address the building condition issues or improve the educational facilities.”

The plans remain at an early stage, though outlines of the expected proposal are detailed. These include the expectation that the school buildings to the eastern end of the site will be retained and modernised.

Those in the western portion however would be demolished to allow for the construction of two buildings – a new teaching block and a sports hall block. A series of outdoor spaces including sports courts and approximately 36 car and cycle parking spaces are also envisaged.

In terms of the homes, a mix of one, two and three-bedroom properties will be delivered with up to 600 cycle spaces.

Demolition is expected to begin in 2025 and to take around three years. The report states a phasing strategy will be devised to ensure teaching can continue during demolition and construction.

A spokesman for Future Academies and London Square said: “London Square has exchanged contracts with Future Academies to redevelop part of its Phoenix Academy site. Phoenix Academy was recently judged to be outstanding in all areas by the schools’ inspectorate, Ofsted. The school’s outcomes place it among the very best in the country.

“London Square will work closely with Future Academies and the council to secure planning consent for the site, providing the school with a building to match the standard of the education it delivers, alongside high quality new homes.”

Pictured top: Phoenix Academy (Picture: Marion Hardman)