Sadiq Khan Steps in to Oversee White City School Decision Following Council’s Rejection of 300-Home Development Plan

The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, is poised to make a significant decision regarding the contentious redevelopment of a West London school, following the rejection of the proposal by the local authority. The Hammersmith and Fulham Council turned down plans in April to demolish the Phoenix Academy in White City and replace it with a new facility alongside 307 residential homes.

This redevelopment initiative, submitted by Future Academies and London Square, sought to address the school’s ageing western buildings, which have been labelled as “outdated, underused and unsafe.” The proposed designs included four new educational blocks, reaching up to four storeys, and six residential buildings, some as high as eight storeys. Of the 307 planned homes, 90 were designated as affordable, aimed specifically at social rent. However, the scheme faced significant opposition from local residents, with the Wormholt Residents Association (WRA) gathering 718 signatures against the proposal.

Community Concerns and Local Opposition

During the consultation process, the council received 60 representations in support of the project, contrasted with 34 objections. At a meeting of the council’s Planning and Development Control Committee, Mark Smith, Development Director at London Square, emphasised the urgency of the situation. He stated, “These proposals represent the best chance our school has of securing the more than £40 million that we need to make improvements to the academy. Members will be fully aware that these costs are spiralling upwards each month, linked to inflation, and we do not have the luxury of a wait and see approach when it comes to the future of the education that our children deserve.”

Despite these arguments, councillors opted to reject the application due to apprehensions about its scale and the adequacy of community consultation. However, the proposal has been revived following the Mayor’s decision to intervene, which means that he, or more likely his Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and the Fire Service, Jules Pipe, will ultimately make the determination.

Public Hearing and Local Reactions

A public hearing will be convened at City Hall before any final decision is reached, allowing both the council and the applicants to present their evidence. Currently, no dates for this hearing have been published on the Greater London Authority (GLA) website.

Julian Vallis, a local resident and Treasurer of the WRA, has accused the applicants of circumventing local democratic processes “to force a mayoral call-in.” He remarked, “While the GLA has intervened, in failing to notify us it has also failed itself in its assessment which fundamentally misrepresents and misunderstands the case. The design is profoundly problematic. How both LBHF [London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham] and the GLA can categorise a development plunging 259 existing homes into darkness to build 307 new ones—a net gain of just 48 well-lit properties—as causing ‘less than substantial harm’ to the Conservation Area is incomprehensible.”

A Community United Against the Proposal

Mr Vallis further asserted that the scheme lacks ambition, offers no new infrastructure, and overlooks existing developments, providing only a marginal improvement in educational facilities. “This scheme is devoid of ambition, offers no new infrastructure, and ignores adjacent developments and provides only a marginal benefit of a ‘better’ school—not a new school or anything additive to the community,” he added.

Although the WRA expressed feelings of anger and disappointment regarding the outcome, they remain resolute. “In this David and Goliath battle, we remain as motivated as ever,” Mr Vallis stated. “We’re working in tandem with our MPs, ward councillors, and neighbouring residents’ associations to mount a robust defence of our community and beautiful Conservation Area against this unworkable monstrosity of an application and to propose our much more ambitious and comprehensive masterplan for the area to reverse 50 years of chronic underinvestment.”

At this stage, both Future Academies and a spokesperson for the Mayor have refrained from commenting on the matter.