Kensington to Benefit From £16 Million New School as Construction Begins

Kensington To Benefit From £16 Million New School As Construction Begins

• Work begins on a new £16m school for Kensington, providing primary school places for more than 200 pupils in the Royal Borough
• One of the five schools Berkeley Group has committed to build, which will create 1,946 new school places, an increase of 5% in total school numbers across the 5 boroughs concerned.
• The new state-of-the-art school is being built by leading developer St Edward, part of the Berkeley Group, at its 375 Kensington High Street address as a key part of the wider Warwick Road masterplan
• The creation of the school marks the beginning of a new chapter for the growing community at the development
• When fully complete this new address will also feature 500 new homes transforming this corner of the High Street

Residents across Kensington move a step closer to gaining a vital new school for the area as building work begins on Warwick Road Primary School.

The new £16m primary school, which is being built by leading developer St Edward in partnership with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea will cater for 210 pupils and a further 26 in a dedicated nursery.

The new school will provide additional places for the newly established community at 375 Kensington High Street, as well as children from across the borough. It is anticipated that the first pupils at the school will start in 2016.

Four storeys high, the school will provide ample space for state-of-the-art classrooms, a wildlife garden on the second floor and will boast a large roof-top play area and garden with seating, all safely enclosed by a high wall that also provides areas of cover from rain or sun.

Located adjacent to a new linear park, which will also form part of St Edward's development on the site of Kensington's new address, 375 Kensington High Street, the school will be visible from the High Street and will stretch along Warwick Road. The School and nursery will provide a key local community resource for both the existing community and those moving into the development.

As well as enhancing the sense of community across the development the school will also provide crucial new school places in an area that is consistently seeing a high demand for new homes.

When built, the school will complete the vision set out by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and St Edward as part of the Warwick Road masterplan, which was designed to breathe new life into this corner of Kensington.

Paul Vallone, Executive Chairman, St Edward, said: "This is an important milestone for the growing community at 375 Kensington High Street and the wider area, who will benefit from a brand new school for children in the borough.

"375 Kensington High Street is a new address and we are seeing it go from strength to strength. The school will help to foster greater ties amongst the growing community at the development and we look forward to seeing its first ever pupils enjoy its classrooms, play areas and gardens when complete.

"In the meantime, we are taking every precaution to limit any disruption caused by construction of the school to those living close by and we appreciate our existing residents' patience and understanding whilst their new school is being built."

Councillor Emma Will, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's Cabinet Member for Education, said:  "The new school is excellent news for the Royal Borough which has worked closely with St Edward to design a fine school which will offer the first class facilities for our children. We are looking forward to this brand new addition to our family of schools in partnership with the sponsors, West London Free School Academy Trust."

The school has been expertly designed to provide teachers and pupils the space and facilities they need to provide first class teaching to the borough's children. As well as a rooftop garden playspace, the school will also come with a separate garden area, specifically designed to allow for quiet play time, encouraging outdoor reading and the growing of plants.

Plans for the school also include a multi-use games area, built at basement level, to accommodate a wide range of sports activities such as football and netball, which will be available to the wider community after school hours. A dedicated viewing gallery accommodating spectators, cheering pupils and parents alike will also feature as part of the sports facilities.

The school will also bring a number of jobs to the area during the construction phase as well as providing  a new source of local employment through the school, nursery and sports facilities.

Located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, 375 Kensington High Street is one of the largest regeneration projects in this part of the borough. When fully complete the development will comprise more than 500 new homes across seven architecturally impressive buildings located around a traditional garden square.

The full completion of the site, including the school is anticipated in 2016.

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