A South London school built in 2018 has been saved from the bulldozer after a council approved changes to the building.
Lewisham Council had threatened Our Lady and St Philip Neri RC Primary School in Sydenham with demolition after it was constructed with the wrong cladding and windows.
But the school has been saved from the wrecking ball after Lewisham Council green lit alterations to the school including new cladding, different coloured window frames and changes to the roof.
Illustration of original design for Our Lady and St Philip Neri RC Primary School approved by Lewisham Council in 2016. CREDIT: Lewisham Council planning documents
Councillors approved the alterations requested by the Archdiocese of Southwark – a branch of the Catholic Church – at a planning meeting on April 29.
Paul McCallum from the Archdiocese of Southwark apologised to the council for failures in the school’s construction that had almost ended in it being torn down.
Speaking at the meeting, he said: “I’m very sorry we’re here again. We made mistakes, and we subsequently appointed a new team.
“I hope you can see from the proposal tonight that we’ve learnt from them and worked collaboratively with the council to find a solution.
“The school opened in 2018. It’s not finished. That’s not good enough.
“What we want to do now is look forward, obtain planning approval [and] provide the children, the parents, the staff with a building that they and the rest of the community can be proud of.”
Mr McCallum said the Archdiocese aimed to make as many of the changes as possible during the 2022 summer holidays to minimise disruption to pupils.
But he admitted building work would continue throughout the autumn term.
Local resident Julia Webb, who lives opposite the school, said the proposed changes would still result in a substandard building.
Speaking at the meeting, she said: “There’s no prospect of a high-quality school if this application is approved tonight.
“The development has been mismanaged and proved a disaster to the pupils who are expected to learn on a building site exposed to noise, disruption and breathing in dust. Where is the developer’s concern for the pupils’ welfare?
“The welfare of children should be the council’s paramount consideration, especially in school planning.
“At every stage of this long saga, the developers have refused to recognise the law or any authority outside themselves.”
Lewisham Council granted the archdiocese permission to build a three-storey school on the site in 2016.
Cranes arrived in 2017, but shortly after construction started it became apparent the school building looked different from what had been proposed. Incorrect cladding and windows had been installed.
The building itself was taller than the council had approved and the layout of guttering and drainpipes was wrong.
Lewisham launched an investigation and in 2019 ordered the archdiocese to demolish the school or make significant changes to the building.
The church appealed the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate but had its case rejected.
It submitted a new application asking Lewisham to approve changes in February.
The alterations approved by the council will see the grey cement-board cladding on the school replaced with terracotta panels.
Bricks will be added on the outside of the building up to the height of the first-floor windows.
Changes to the roof, window frames and vents will also be made, among other alterations.
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