A North London council has come forward with plans to build a brand new primary school and nursery, following the planned demolition of two existing schools that are said to be in ‘very poor condition’. The plan is part of a wider regeneration of the area, which, when complete, will see more than 2,400 new homes built, alongside community spaces and a park.
Brent Council’s Cabinet has been asked to approve plans to use £12.9 million of Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL) funds for the development, as well as a further £4.4 million for improvements to South Kilburn Urban Park. A decision on whether to green light funds for the latest stage of the South Kilburn Regeneration Project will be made at next week’s Cabinet meeting (Monday, December 9).
Following demolition, the new school is proposed to be built on the site of one of two existing schools – Carlton Vale Infant School – with the land is owned by Brent Council. The urban park is set to be built on the land currently occupied by the second school – Kilburn Park Juniors. However, as this land is owned by the school’s foundation, the council would have to get permission from the Department for Education to use it for non-educational purposes.
Under the plans, the council hopes to agree a land transfer of Kilburn Park Juniors site by March 2025, with the pupils from Carlton Vale Infant School decanting to Kilburn Park Juniors by September 2026 – which has already been agreed by both schools. If approved, construction of the new school is expected to begin in March 2027, and be completed by January 2029.
Following completion of the new school, Kilburn Park Juniors would be demolished to make way for South Kilburn Urban Park, which is expected to be completed by August 2029.
The proposed improvements include new cycle and pedestrian connections, youth space, gym trail, woodland play area, community orchard, and a community pavilion that can accommodate community space and café.
A report submitted by council officers outline plans for a one-form entry school – meaning there is only one class per year group – by merging the pupils from both existing schools. Carlton Vale Infant School would be demolished first meaning the pupils would be temporarily decanted to Kilburn Park Juniors.
It was determined that a two-form entry school – meaning two classes per year group – would likely lead to spare places in the area and would ‘not be an efficient use of resources’. Due to the volume of proposed new homes in the area, the report suggests it ‘felt prudent’ to design options that would allow the school to be expanded to a two-form entry should more spaces be needed. However, should this expansion be required, the SCIL money would not cover this and additional funding would need to be found.
It was hoped that the new school would be delivered as part of a 2023 planning application, which outlined plans for 146 homes, a two-form entry school, and park improvements on the combined site. However, the plan was subsequently withdrawn due to a ‘significant viability deficit’, which was largely down to the cost of building the school.
Both schools are described as being in ‘very poor condition’ and at following discussions at the Regeneration Board and Capital Programme Board, it was recommended that SCIL money could be used for the development, which would enable developers to deliver a greater number of affordable homes at the site, which were estimated at 12 per cent.
The officer’s report states: “With the 46,000 new homes in Brent expected to be delivered in the Local Plan period of 2019 to 2041, there will be a need for new and enhanced community facilities in and around the growth areas to meet this increase in population. The school will not only support the educational needs of the growing population but will also act as a catalyst for community cohesion, social mobility, and local economic growth.”
The report describes the park as ‘the single most important piece of green infrastructure’ designed to ‘foster community cohesion and improve residents’ quality of life’. It adds: “The park’s role in the regeneration of the South Kilburn area cannot be overstated, as it is a core driver for enhancing the attractiveness and liveability of South Kilburn.”
The South Kilburn Masterplan was produced in 2005, revised in 2016, and eventually adopted in 2017. Fourteen redevelopment sites have been completed so far, with a further three underway, and seven are in various stages of design, planning, and delivery. Once complete, it is expected to contribute towards the council’s overall target of 3,437 new homes in the borough.
Grant Williams is a journalist and Local Democracy Reporter (LDR) for Reach PLC, reporting on local government, politics and community issues across London. As part of the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he has contributed to Harrow Online, covering council decisions, housing developments, transport, planning matters and stories affecting local communities across Harrow and Brent.
