Newham discuss school closure as acres of undeveloped land sits nearby
Newham Council are today discussing closing a primary school at a Cabinet meeting.
Calverton Primary School is the latest in a string across London to fall due to falling pupil numbers. Low birth rates and high cost of housing have been given as reasons why fewer are having children in the capital.
According to a Newham Council report, the latest in line for closure “had 174 pupils on roll against its PAN capacity of 420 places.”
However unlike some schools this site sits near acres of undeveloped land which should have ensured full classrooms if new housing had been built.
Public ownership
The land sits under public ownership via the Greater London Authority beside both Royal Albert and Beckton Park DLR stations. Vast tracts of land have remained empty for decades save for the flop of a scheme that was Boris Johnson’s heralded ABP.
Earlier this year the GLA again embarked on seeking partners to develop the land. Hopefully this time there’s a bit more success after 25 years of inaction across most of the wider site.
It’s another example of failing to build much needed homes on public land despite excellent transport links on the doorstep and an ever growing housing crises. Despite that inertia and delays are seen year after year after year.
Instead of a strong public body pushing forward, dither and delays rule the roost as “partnerships” come and go. See also 25 years and counting at Silvertown Quays where 7,000 new homes have just been approved. The latest in a long line of approvals.
Will this be any more successful?
Greenwich peninsula is another large tract of GLA land where 25 years after large expense from the public purse on cleaning land much of the area remains vacant. Large parts placed in the hands of a single developer to then plots built out extremely slowly.
Back at the Royal Docks and what should be a thriving area of housing, shops, leisure and employment simply isn’t and a local primary school is closing – in part – as a result.
It would make perfect sense to keep the existing school open. While redeveloping the acres of empty land with new homes.
Labour Counciks are very shoet sighted when it comes to providing new amenities like infrastructure around new developments including schools shops, GP Surgeries and public transport improvements.
When the demand for school places increases there will be a mad scramble to find a suitable site….
Calverton has now been confirmed as closing at the end of the school year. The management running it need some serious looking into. There are rumours of big financial problems at another one of their schools now.