Overview

LocatED was commissioned to secure a suitable site and deliver a new 90-place school for children with a Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) designation.

Existing provision of such specialist accommodation in the local area was already significantly over-subscribed and suitable sites limited in availability.

LocatED identified a site, forming part of a former hospital and owned by St Georges and West London Mental Health NHS Trust. A joint venture with the NHS trust was negotiated to secure planning and deliver the required new school alongside a new clinic facility for the NHS.

Challenge

Finding suitably located and accessible sites to meet the specialist needs of the school trust, Beckmead, proved challenging in the required search area of south-west London. Whilst the identified site benefitted from an outline permission for a new school, as part of a wider mixed-use development of the site, the consented scheme did not meet the specific requirements for delivery of a specialist school. In addition, efficient development of the land would require close co-operation between the school and the proposed new NHS clinic, to minimise disruption and to share the costs of new site infrastructure.

The site itself, whilst vacant, was surrounded by private residential housing and had a complicated planning history. Close engagement with local residents and other landowners would therefore be required to ensure an acceptable planning permission was secured and the subsequent construction works undertaken in a way which minimised disruption in the local area.

Solution

LocatED commissioned a design team to undertake a feasibility study of the site, working in partnership with the NHS trust. Plans were developed for the joint delivery of the required new school buildings and mental health clinic, which were the subject of extensive consultation with the planning authority and local residents.

A joint venture agreement was negotiated and entered into with the NHS trust, to facilitate delivery of the works for both the school and clinic, enabling the DfE and NHS trust to share the costs of planning and infrastructure.

A detailed planning consent was obtained in 2023 and a contractor procured using the Southern Construction Framework.

Impact

Both the school and mental health clinic are due to open in 2027 and will deliver much needed facilities to serve the local area.

As well as providing a new high quality education environment for pupils with specialist needs, the new school will significantly reduce the number of children having to travel out of their local area, resulting also in significant costs savings for the local education authority.