Free school’s bid to convert former police station blocked

The now-closed Hackney Central Police Station. Photograph: Hackney Citizen

Plans for a free school to set up in a former police station have been given the thumbs-down by Hackney Council.

The building was bought by the government’s education funding agency two years ago for £7.6m.

The Olive school, which hoped to move in, has been operating out of temporary premises in Stoke Newington and Shoreditch.

The Tauheedal Education Trust, which runs the school, had applied to the council for:

(1) Change of use and refurbishment of listed building; demolition of rear buildings; and three-storey new build; to provide a new primary school with associated playspace, access, bus layby, servicing and cycle parking.

(2) Listed building consent for demolition of rear buildings and structures and various internal and external alterations associated with conversion of the building to a primary school; provision of bus layby upon adjacent land within St John’s Churchyard.

In response to a consultation about the plans, the council received 654 responses from nearby residents and others.

Of these responses, 81 were objections and 3 were not objections in principle but did raise concerns.

573 in support were received including a 128 signature petition from existing students of the Olive School at the temporary premises on Cazenove Road and in Shoreditch.

The Town Hall’s planning officers recommended that planning permission and listed building consent be refused.

Last week the council’s planning committee agreed, and turned down the Trust’s application, taking on board concerns about likely traffic congestion in Hackney Central which would result from putting the 630-pupil school on a modest site next to St John’s churchyard, and situated in a conservation area.

A spokesman for the Olive School told the Hackney Citizen: “We are disappointed by the decision, particularly as the application received significant support from parents and local people. We will now review our proposed plans.”

Cllr Katie Hanson, chair of the the council’s planning committee, said: “We had the opportunity to listen to both objectors and people supporting the recommendation, and to ask them questions.

“Ultimately, the committee supported officers’ recommendation to refuse the application on the grounds set out in the report.”