Plans submitted to rebuild Shepherds Bush school and 300 homes

Plans have been submiitted to rebuild the Phoenix Academy in west London and construct a pair of residential blocks on the site containing 300 homes.

The proposals by Phoenix Academy Trust and developer London Square would replace most of the school’s existing buildings but retain Bond Bryan’s ‘liquorice allsorts’ sixth form block, a local landmark which was completed in 2011. The scheme is designed by TP Bennett and Pick Everard .

Located in Shepherd’s Bush, the Phoenix Academy was established as Phoenix High School in 1982 but steadily declined, being deemed by Ofsted in the mid 1990s as one of the UK’s eight most challenging schools.It was converted into an academy in 2016.

However, the school said there is now a growing back-log of maintenance work needed on its existing buildings including a large amount of asbestos which would cost up to £40m to remove, according to cost consultant Gleeds.

The Phoenix Academy Trust said it had turned to housebuilder London Square after it was told it was ineligible for the government’s school rebuilding programme, and would not receive funding for a redevelopment from Hammersmith and Fulham council.

The scheme’s residential component would span two blocks ranging between two and eight storeys in height, containing a total of 307 homes, along with a 10-space car park and 576-space cycle spaces.

The full project team includes landscape architect Exterior Architecture, civil engineer Waterman, planning consultant Quod, transport consultant Velocity, MEP engineer Hoare Lea, wind consultant WSP and townscape consultant The Townscape Consultancy.