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Revamp for top school blocked by planners
Mira Bar-Hillel, Property Correspondent13 Oct 2008
THE future of one of London's highest achieving private schools has been thrown into confusion after the rejection of redevelopment plans.
South Hampstead High, one of the most academically successful girls schools in London, wants to demolish its Victorian buildings, replacing them with larger classrooms and dedicated music and art schools.
But Camden council's planning committee has turned the scheme down, saying the design is not good enough for the conservation area.
Council officers accepted the scheme would bring "a significant improvement to the school facilities, offering benefits to school users, to which there is a clearly identified need", and also offered "benefit to the wider community".
They also commended the proposed building's environmental credentials.
But they concluded that the school and its architects had failed to justify the demolition of the main building, which "makes a significant and positive contribution to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area".
The proposed replacement building, they added, was unacceptable because of its footprint, bulk, scale, design and the material used and "would appear incongruous in its historic setting".
The school, where day fees are almost £10,000-a-year, was founded in 1876 in St John's Wood under the auspices of the Girls' Day Schools Trust, and has been in Maresfield Gardens for 125 years.
Alumnae include actress Helena Bonham Carter, writer Fay Wheldon, broadcaster Rabbi Julia Neuberger, and model Daisy Lowe.
Local objectors welcomed the council's decision. Dr Mayer Hillman, from the Netherall neighbourhood association, said: "The school has two choices: reduce the school roll so they don't require more space and can simply refurbish the existing site, or move."
The school's architect accused the council of "double standards". Ian Williams, of Haskolls, said the council intends to build its own £30million, 1,150-place academy in nearby Adelaide Road.
"The council hasn't created a fuss about their own school site. How can you stand on a high horse in one location but not in another? I am bloody angry about it."
