Academy and leisure centre plans submitted

A planning application for a new leisure centre and academy in North Kensington has been submitted to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea by architects Studio E.

Highlights of the proposals include:

1) a new academy providing much needed school places as over 30 per cent of local students currently travel outside the Royal Borough for their secondary education

2) a state-of-the-art leisure centre to replace the current facility creating more usable green space and enlarging Lancaster Green

3) improving access and creating better links to the area

4) new homes to help fund the scheme.

Over the past two years the Council and the Aldridge Foundation have consulted widely on the emerging proposals through a series of drop-in events, workshops and exhibitions. The local community has also been kept informed through newsletters, a residents' forum, the leisure centre user group and through the Council and academy websites.

The outcome of the planning application is expected in September. If given the go-ahead a phased construction programme would begin in the autumn of 2012 with the Kensington Aldridge Academy opening in September 2014. Construction of the leisure centre will coincide with the academy programme with the aim of the new centre opening at the same time as the academy. 

The planning application will soon be available online, please visit www.rbkc.gov.uk/kalc to view the application and have your say. Alternatively, visit the Planning Information Office, Ground Floor, Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street W8 7NX