St. Augustine's Update

Back in February, we reported that St. Augustine's school had also been successfully in winning planning permission to re-develop and expand (see here).

Over the last couple of months, we have also been in discussions with Council officers to ensure that the plans for the school do not significantly affect local residents. And, after lots of discussion, we are pleased that it looks as though Maida Vale residents should not be overly affected by the changes.

As some local residents will already have seen, the hoardings have already begun to be put in place to build the new sports hall for St. Augustine's - on the site of the old, bombed church across Oxford Road (and technically across the border on land owned by Brent Council). The plan is that the sports hall will be built and available for the school to use by the end of the year.

Preparatory works on the main school site will get underway in the Summer, with works properly beginning in late Autumn/Winter. An 'infill' block will be created between the two existing buildings, along with full refurbishment of the existing accommodation. This is likely to last until the end of 2011, done in stages and whilst pupils remain on site.

We are pleased to report that the building contractors are planning for lorries to service both sites from Rudolph Road and not Oxford Road in the main, which should reduce the works impact on local residents. This will only change in 2011 when small lorries will be used as part of the refurbishment works and will use a small ramp to be built on Oxford Road (we have been assured the ramp will be too small for large lorries to use and that they will still access via Rudolph Road).

All site and compound areas will be situated near Rudolph Road, away from most local residents in Oxford Road and Tollgate Gardens.

The only time that works are expected to come anywhere near Tollgate is for a few weeks in 2011 when the playground and sports court at the back of St. Augustine's will be resurfaced. Otherwise, the main body of works will remain at the other side of the site, reducing its impact on local residents.

If you are a local resident and have any questions, comments or issues regarding the building works, don't hesitate to get in touch. We are here to help!

Jan