University College London Academy decision expected

Published: 05 August, 2010
by RICHARD OSLEY

PLANNING chiefs will decide tonight (Thursday) whether designs for a new school get the green light – even though the government has yet to decide whether the flagship education project will go ahead.

University College London (UCL) is waiting to hear from Education Secretary Michael Gove, who holds the final decision on whether to fund its plans for an academy school in Swiss Cottage.

It survived Mr Gove’s initial slashing back of Labour’s Building Schools for the Future programme, but remains under review. 

The hope for UCL is that its project is so far advanced in terms of planning that Mr Gove will struggle to justify axing it at this stage.

Another hurdle is likely to be cleared tonight when councillors sitting on the planning committee rule on architect designs for the academy earmarked for the top of Adelaide Road.

The planning application has given objectors a further chance to protest against the nature of academy sponsorship, and more than 70 objections have been filed with the council ahead of the meeting – but councillors can only take planning concerns into consideration. 

Neighbours have complained that the buildings will be too big, exacerbate parking shortages and put too much strain on public transport. 

Officials have provisionally recommended that the politicians approve the scheme.