The Stag brewery planning saga is like watching an endless game of ping pong. In our last post, we reported that despite finally securing planning consent, no actual construction work was likely to take place for at least 18 months. This was for two main reasons; the owners of the site, CDL, were looking to either sell the site on to new developers and/or embark on a joint venture and secondly the Department for Education was still in the process of assessing the proposed secondary school (also known as the Livingstone Academy) as part of its major review of pre- funding applications for free schools round the country.
What is the score?
Six months later, we have moved slightly forward and then one step back. The owners have been in discussions with potential buyers of the site but failed to clinch a deal. We understand from the developer’s agents that the site is shortly to be put on the open market for sale although the owners will consider co-developing some of the site with the right partner.
In November, the Department of Education announced that it was” minded “ to cancel the secondary school project. This was a considerable victory on the part of campaigners and local education leaders. We have long argued that the secondary school was not needed on grounds of falling pupil rolls and that a new school, would harm existing and established secondary schools in the area.
Secondary school still in play
Council officers reporting to Richmond’s Education and Children’s Services Committee this January agreed that rolls are falling and stated that ‘as lower primary school numbers move through to secondary school, there will be less pressure on secondary school places and more vacancies in year 7’
Despite overwhelming evidence identifying clear lack of need for places, the Council leadership and Sarah Olney,MP have written to the Department of Education (DfE) and asked them to reconsider their decision on the secondary school. This creates planning blight and uncertainty. Once again our local leaders show scant regard for the views of the community in Mortlake.
If the secondary school is once again rejected, as we suspect, MBCG is backing calls to relocate Thomson House Primary school from its present unsafe and cramped environment. The Stag site is the ideal location to relocate this successful primary school and is a move that is strongly supported by local residents and parents. Removing the secondary school from the plans will also give rise to opportunities for alternative design of the site and the retention of the sports field.
Future of film studios
In the meantime, The Story Works film production company continue to occupy part of the site for film production, including the successful A Thousand Blows, commissioned by Disney. The hope is that Disney will give the green light for further series to be made and the original sets will come out of wraps and activity on the site will get busy again.
So, the game of ping pong continues with these questions hanging in the air:
- Who might purchase or co-develop the site in the future ?
- Will Department of Education change their decision and agree to provide funding for the secondary school ?
- Will Disney throw a lifeline to the film studios by supporting a third series of A Thousand Blows ?
We will keep everyone informed as this very long game plays out and will continue to campaign for a revised scheme that will renew our community rather than destroy it.