Chiswick House School has defended its plans to build a new primary school in Pembroke, amid protests by neighbours who say that it will take up a so-far undeveloped site.
School director Bernie Mizzi said in a statement that the new private school will introduce young children to an entirely new concept of learning and take up just 25 per cent of its allocated footprint.
The school needs to relocate from the centre of a residential area in Kappara to realise its vision and has been in consultation with the authorities over the leasing of a new site for two years, Ms Mizzi said.
"The government-owned plot in Pembroke was identified after several other options were examined, including the use of existing buildings. It forms only part of a larger parcel of land that has been earmarked for development, for many years," the school said.
According to the Pembroke Development Brief in the 2006 North Harbours Local Plan, the plot of land is clearly provisioned for development and incorporates the whole designated area of unbuilt land, not just the parcel where the proposed school is to be located, the school said.
“The new Chiswick House School premises will be one of the first in Europe to use the innovative pod and open-classroom concept, where children are encouraged to interact with their natural environment rather than being confined to a room.
“We have already embarked upon this approach at our current premises but require a purpose-built school to provide children with a truly inspirational learning experience,” Ms Mizzi said.
“We are not just building a school, and nor are we intending to increase capacity over the circa 900 we have today. What we wish to do is create an environment that benefits from open space – comprising both natural and recreational areas – where children can thrive.”
Should proposed plans be approved, the school will incorporate a private road that will serve as a drop-off and pick-up area within the site itself rather than on the adjacent road. It will also comprise a car park for 82 vehicles, and studies are being carried out to assess traffic flows.
Chiswick House School has appointed MMP architects, UK-based design architecture firm Mizzi Studio – a member of the Royal Institute of Architects that has designed structures for London’s green parks – and engaged an environmental consultant who has been tasked with drawing up an environmental report for the area.
Ms Mizzi said the school is looking into the possibility of making use of the park-and-ride system – and will continue to be receptive to ideas, 'meeting all stakeholders and listening to everyone.
READ: Chiswick School wants ‘equitable solution’ to Pembroke development plans
The proposed school will rise to three storeys in most places and will therefore have much less environmental impact than any other development that could have been built on the same site, she insisted.
“We understand residents’ concerns about our school occupying a portion of land that was left vacant when they built their own homes in the same area, but we also intend to make the premises available to the local community outside of school hours and believe they too can benefit from our innovative facilities,” she said.
