Go ahead for magnificent new academy and leisure centre

27 September 2012

Plans for a magnificent new academy and leisure centre in North Kensington were given the go ahead last night (Wednesday 26 September) by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

The new Kensington Aldridge Academy and Kensington Leisure Centre will not only provide local people with a much needed new school and state-of-the-art leisure centre, the development also includes an enhanced children's park, a much improved Lancaster Green and new homes for sale that will help fund the scheme.

In December 2011 the Council committed £40.2m of funding to the project. Together with a £17.6m contribution from the Government towards the Academy, the development represents a £57.8m investment in North Kensington.

Over the past two years the Council and the Academy's sponsor, the Aldridge Foundation, have consulted widely with the local community and their feedback and comments have been incorporated into the final designs.

Councillor Sir Merrick Cockell, Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, said:

"This is a landmark day for the North Kensington community and represents our ongoing commitment to investing in great facilities for our residents.

"Despite the challenging economic climate we are proud to be able to build a new academy and leisure centre which are going to make a vital contribution to local life for decades to come."

Sir Rod Aldridge, chairman of the Academy's lead sponsor The Aldridge Foundation, said:

"This is a big step towards opening a great new Academy which will deliver high standards of education for local children, building on success already achieved in neighbouring primary schools. The Kensington Aldridge Academy will be an environment where learning and entrepreneurial attitudes are valued, and will bring real benefits for its students and the local community."

The Council has chosen the Leadbitter Group to build the entire project, as they have a proven capacity to deliver first-class developments.

A phased construction programme will get underway next month with the Kensington Aldridge Academy opening in September 2014 for the first term of Year 7 pupils.

The existing Kensington Leisure Centre is expected to close on Monday 24 December. Construction of the leisure centre will run in parallel with the academy so that both new buildings can open together in 2014.


For more information visit www.rbkc.gov.uk/kalc and www.aldridgefoundation.com/kensington-academy