Planning Application Submitted for Creation of 'EdCity'
White City education hub would include new Ark Swift Primary and Harmony Nursery
A planning application has been submitted to Hammersmith & Fulham Council for the creation of 'EdCity' - an innovative new education hub, plus new housing and community
facilities in White City.
The plans set out proposals to redevelop the site currently occupied by Ark Swift Primary Academy, Harmony Neighbourhood Nursery and the Adult Community Learning Centre to create a new school, expanded nursery and a revamped adult education centre.
It would also include the first OnSide
Youth Zone in west London, offering a huge range of affordable activities for young people, as well as
new affordable and private housing, new offices, and a public square.
Andrew McLean, the development manager for EdCity, said: “We were very pleased with the
comments and support that we received during the consultation on plans for EdCity, and submitting
the planning application brings us a step closer to delivering this exciting project.
"We are hopeful that,
if planning permission is granted, we will be able to begin construction work on this innovative centre
in the summer and start bringing lots of benefits to the local community over the coming years."
The submission of the planning application follows two rounds of public consultation in November
2016 and November 2017. These were attended by more than 100 people, and the developer say that a clear majority of
respondents were supportive of the proposals.
Durign this year, the
proposals evolved to include more housing – including homes for social, intermediate and private
rent, to help meet local needs and ensure that the project is deliverable – while Hammersmith &
Fulham Council also joined the project as a development partner.
A new Youth Zone, delivered by young people’s charity OnSide, is also included in the proposals,
and would offer a huge variety of affordable and inspiring sports, arts, music, mentoring and
employability programmes to young people from eight to 19 (and up to 25 for those with additional
needs) every day of the week.
The Youth Zone would include indoor sports facilities and a Multi Use
Games Area (MUGA) that would be used during school hours by the new Ark Swift Primary Academy.
The proposals for EdCity also include new office space alongside the new school, nursery, youth
zone, adult education centre and housing. One of the major new tenants will be Ark, the education
charity with a network of schools in Hammersmith and Fulham including Ark Swift Primary Academy,
which will move its headquarters from central London.
The proposals include a new public square and would see Harmony Neighbourhood Nursery expand
its capacity from 45 to 75 children, offering its Ofsted-Outstanding care and early years education to
more local children.
Meanwhile the council’s adult community learning centre would move into a
larger, state-of-the-art facility, bringing its essential services to more people in the local area.
If the planning application is approved, construction could begin in summer 2018 with the new Ark Swift Primary Academy and OnSide Youth Zone opening in 2020, the new Harmony Neighbourhood Nursery opening in 2021 and all construction work complete by 2022.
The proposals, first shown to local people at exhibitions last year are available online.
February 5, 2018