Concerns raised over historic school's redevelopment plans

Highgate School plans to extend and refurbish its five-storey main building while the science block would also be improved and extended, reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter

It’s “really obvious” that community concerns have informed a major school redevelopment scheme, a planning advisor has claimed.

The response, delivered at Haringey Council’s planning committee on Monday (7th), followed a discussion of draft proposals aimed at modernising much of the historic educational establishment.

The plans, scrutinised as part of a pre-application briefing with councillors, would see the extension and refurbishment of the five-storey main building at Highgate School, referred to as ‘Dyne House’. A science block would also be improved and extended as part of the works.

A number of other parts of the institution, first established in 1565, are also set to be refurbished or replaced. In addition, the programme would see the installation of a prefabbed ‘modular’ classroom, to be in place for “a period of up to six years”.

Speaking at Monday’s planning meeting Eva Bell, a ward councillor for Highgate, acknowledged the “understandable” desire of the school to carry out the upgrades.

However, she also raised concerns about the “scale, massing and design” of the proposals – and their potential impact on “one of London’s most distinctive historic environments”.

“Residents want confidence that the historic character of Highgate will not be gradually eroded through cumulative development over time,” Cllr Bell argued.

It is equally “essential that climate resilience is fully considered in the plans,” the Green councillor said.

“A recurring concern,” Cllr Bell continued, “is that, despite extensive consultation, local people have struggled to see where their feedback has materially influenced the final proposals”.

Bidwells, which describes itself as “a leading real estate advisor” responsible for the management of over £5.2billion in property assets, has been developing the upgrade plans with Highgate School since 2016.

Jonathan Bainbridge, a partner at the company, issued an abrupt counter to Cllr Bell, telling the planning committee “it’s really obvious where the changes to the scheme have been and the extent of dialogue and engagement over time”.

Plans for a new service block at Highgate School (credit Hopkins Architects Ltd) — Plans for Highgate School (credit Hopkins Architects Ltd)

Evidencing his arguments, Bainbridge pointed to examples of community feedback being used to hone the school’s plans, such as the revised elevations and functions of some the new buildings – as well its decision to submit all elements of its proposals to the council at the same time.

The programme, Bainbridge argued, is aimed at “delivering a modern, future-proof estate that better responds to today’s demanding educational requirements”.

Adam Pettitt, headteacher at Highgate School, said the institution is a “proud member” of the local community, as reflected by its partnerships with nearby state schools. He also told councillors that, with 1,950 pupils currently enrolled, the school is close to reaching its maximum capacity.

Nevertheless, the headteacher assured planners that the redevelopment scheme was “not about increasing pupil numbers”.

Although the establishment supports a number of pupils with bursaries, non-discounted fees for both its junior and senior schooling come in at over £10,000 per term.

Pettitt, who has been head of Highgate School since 2006, explained that it was focused on replacing facilities that have “reached the end of their working life and are not fit for purpose”.

The redevelopment, he said, is about balancing the need to adapt the school’s facilities while ensuring that the works “would not mean that Highgate Village is a construction site for ten years or more”.

The major proposals, first submitted to the council in 2023, were being discussed in their current draft form. A final decision will not be reached in the immediate future.

Planning officers said they were “mindful of some members being new” to the planning committee. This, as well as a number of updates, meant it was agreed “that it would be helpful all round” to provide the briefing.

For more information about Highgate School’s redevelopment:
Visit highgateschool.org.uk/buildingprojects

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