Grade II listed Kensington car park to be converted into private school

Yoo Capital and Deutsche Finance International have secured planning approval to convert a Grade II listed car park into a private school as part of the £1.3bn Kensington Olympia, W14, regeneration scheme. The move comes as original plans to convert the space into offices, which were granted planning approval in 2019, were scrapped. Redevelopment of the 1930s multi-storey car park, which is set to be occupied by the BRIT School and private education provider Alpha Plus Group, was approved by the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham as part of wider plans to provide vocational and performing arts spaces in Kensington’s cultural quarter. The plans for the site include substantial revisions for new uses of the site as an independent secondary school for creative arts that will offer teaching spaces and a theatre. The east of the site also has approval for a hotel and gym, with access to cultural, flexible working and entertainment facilities. This forms part of wider plans proposed as part of the regeneration of Olympia approved by the mayor of London in 2021, which is expected to complete in 2024. Plans by HWS and architecture studio SPPARC outline the retention of the Grade II listed facade. Yoo Capital chairman John Hitchcox said the company’s “aim is to build a hub of creativity that encompasses all the arts at Olympia”. For more information on planning decisions in Hammersmith & Fulham click here>> To send feedback, e-mail chante.bohitige@eg.co.uk or tweet @bohitige or @EGPropertyNews Image © SPPARC