Green light for Emmanuel School development

PUPILS at Emmanuel primary in West Hampstead can now look forward to a brand new school after the development was unanimously approved by Camden councillors last night. The scheme will see a state-of-the-art building constructed on Mill Lane on the site o

PUPILS at Emmanuel primary in West Hampstead can now look forward to a brand new school after the development was unanimously approved by Camden councillors last night.

The scheme will see a state-of-the-art building constructed on Mill Lane on the site of four houses and part of the Open Space to replace the current school opposite.

It will allow Emmanuel to become a one-form entry primary as opposed to a half-form entry and give the children more space. The old site will be converted into a nursery and reception area for the school.

Schools boss Cllr Heather Johnson said: "This is a step forward for the children of West Hampstead.

"There will be a number of primary school children able to get places nearer to home and it is a much needed development that we have been waiting for for more than 40 years.

"It has been a long time in the planning and the school at the moment is very crushed and not suitable. Not only will we get a new primary school but also a refurbished nursery facilities on the old site which is a double benefit."

Artist Suzi Malin, who has campaigned against the development, is devastated by the decision and says her studio, which is adjacent to the site, will be ruined by the new development.

A whole range of top names in the art world came out in support of the painter including David Hockney, Alan Yentob, Jay Jopling and director of the National Portrait Gallery Sandy Nairne.

She said: "I will lose my light, peace and privacy. They all voted in favour of it despite all the opposition and nine pages of reasons. This building will be here for all eternity and West Hampstead will never be the same.