Hybrid application for the phased masterplan to improve the school’s teaching and administration facilities, including new buildings, tennis courts and improvements to sporting facilities and the junior school.
Hybrid application for the phased masterplan to improve the school’s teaching and administration facilities, including new buildings, tennis courts and improvements to sporting facilities and the junior school.
Iceni secured a Resolution to Grant at the Harrow Planning Committee in November 2020 for this hybrid application for the phased masterplan to improve the North London Collegiate School’s teaching and administration facilities, including new buildings, tennis courts and improvements to sporting facilities and the junior school. The masterplan responds to a crucial need identified by the school to improve female participation in science and engineering career fields with Phase 1 creating specialised technical spaces for design, technology and engineering as well as additional teaching spaces for art.
The scheme, designed by award winning Architects Walters and Cohen who specialise in Educational Design, will deliver much needed facilities to improve the school administration, teaching spaces, sports facilities and related functionality and movement around the site.
The design of Phase 1 which has come forward as a detailed planning application proposes new buildings which are carefully integrated with the existing facilities and which take full account the various designations of Metropolitan Open Land, listed building and conservation area status as well as the Registered Park and Garden status.
Iceni Projects have been working with the School for a number of years and for this project provided technical planning, heritage, transport and health impact expertise to support the application proposals. Our specialist engagement team provided strategic advice on local engagement considerations which was particularly crucial given the onset of the pandemic during the submission and assessment timeframe.
Key issues included demonstrating very special circumstances given the Metropolitan Open Land designation; acceptability in heritage terms (given the on-site Grade II listed Manor House and other heritage designations); and detailed consideration of traffic matters which often arise with School uses.
The facilities created will also make significant and meaningful contribution to the learning opportunities of the wider educational community and the school is looking to broaden the collaborations which it already undertakes with local schools as part of the proposals. The facilities will include an IDEAS hub for Innovation, Design, Engineering Art and Science spaces. The outline phases, which will come forward at a later date, include improvements to sports, music, performing arts, drama and the junior school.
The scheme is currently being considered by the GLA as part of their review process.