Campaigners have called for commonsense to prevail as a government inspector considers approving a 10-storey secondary school in Bromley town centre.

London South East Academies Trust (LSEAT) appealed Bromley Council’s rejection of plans for the Science Health and Wellbeing Futures Academy on the corner of Westmoreland Road and Masons Hill.

A public inquiry was held last week following the decision last year to block plans because of safety concerns and the impact a high-rise school would have on neighbours.

Commonsense

Campaigners speaking at the meeting said that while there is a great need for school places, this school – which has no on-site parking – risked ignoring commonsense.

Speaking on behalf of the SHaW School Development Action Group, a spokeswoman said: “We are aware of the shortage of secondary school places facing the borough. Some of our core members are even parents of young children who will be directly affected by that shortage if it is not resolved.

“However, that should not be used as an excuse for a scheme that is unpopular with residents and parents to go ahead when more suitable sites could be made available.”

READ ALSO: Bullers Wood School for Boys' planning inquiry finishes

Campaigners – and some local councillors – said a high-rise school with no outdoor play space would be unpopular with parents.

Frustrating traffic conditions

Nicky Dykes, Bromley Town ward councillor, said following the inquiry’s close: “At 10 storeys tall this building would tower over residents on Pinewood Road and exacerbate already frustrating traffic conditions at one of the busiest junctions in the borough.

“More indicative of how unpopular this is, is the fact no parents contacted us in support of this school.  With no outdoor space and with windows needing to be kept closed to keep out pollution and noise it’s not hard to see why.

“We sincerely hope the inspector endorses the refusal made by councillors last year and supports the council’s case for refusal.”

 

More than 200 people objected to the original proposals and neighbours and campaigners turned out during the inquiry to argue against the high-rise school.

The school would have enough spaces for 1,260 pupils, and be spread over a part-four and part-10-storey building standing at 119ft.

Inquiry 

The inquiry closed on Friday, November 23 and a decision will be made in the coming months.

The site has been earmarked to be used for educational purposes, and the council said it does not object to a school being built there – it does however take issue with the proposed design.

Speaking on behalf of the council, Craig Howell Williams QC, told planning inspector Brendon Lyons: “The harm that will be caused in terms of design is of such gravity that it would substantially outweigh the benefits of the proposed scheme.”

On behalf of the applicant, Lisa Busch QC, said the need for a new six to eight-form-entry secondary school outweighed the impacts it may have, and it would not be feasible to propose a smaller school on the site.

She added: “The council has undergone an extensive site selection process for new school places which shows the alternatives are extremely limited. If the school cannot be built on the site, there is nowhere else for it to go.”