More places for children by September 2016

St John's Primary school in West Ealing is to be rebuilt and expanded to create an extra 210 places.

The school is next to the Green Man Lane Estate, which is in the process of being rebuilt and regenerated. The rebuilding of the school, and Jubilee Children’s Centre, forms part of the bigger plans for the local area.

Initial proposals published earlier in the year had included an option for building flats above the new school. However, as the plans have developed, this option has been rejected as it would have limited the size and scope of the new school building. The school will be rebuilt on its current site, as well as using some adjacent land. The rebuild will be part funded from selling some of the existing school land along Felix Road to Rydon and A2 Dominion who are the estate’s main developers. The council will also be making a contribution towards the costs of the work.

The council has been expanding primary school places since 2009. But with the birth rate continuing to rise, and demand for places increasing, extra places are needed, especially in the Ealing and Hanwell areas. St John’s is well placed to meet some of this extra local demand and the expansion will create an extra class in each year group (210 extra places in total) as well as providing purpose built accommodation for the school's pupils with special educational needs.

Councillor Jasbir Anand, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “This is great news for families and will help take some pressure off primary school places locally.

“We always try and expand existing school buildings where we can, but a complete rebuild is the best option for St John’s as many of their buildings were coming to the end of their lifespan. I’m pleased to say that our agreement with Rydon and A2 Dominion means that we will rebuild the school at a relatively low cost to the public purse.”

The designs for the school are due to be submitted for planning approval early next year. If planning approval is granted, early works will take place next autumn and the new building will be ready for the additional pupils in September 2016. The school will stay open to pupils throughout the building works.

27th November 2013