Skip to main content

To: Kensington & Chelsea London Borough Council

STOP THE DEMOLITION OF MARLBOROUGH SCHOOL, SW3 (Draycott & Sloane Avenue)

Don't tear down this beautiful Victorian school building. Planning assessments have shown that it would be possible to create the new school by working with the existing building instead of destroying it.

Why is this important?

BREAKING NEWS! The Department for Education have advised that NO application was made by the Council for disposal of school land. The School Assets Team has informed us that they have now written asking for an application to be made.

The original planning brief was to upgrade the existing school but now the council has approved plans to demolish it entirely and build offices and shops on a large part of the land.
These offices and shops will account for up to 75% of the additional m2 created (compared to 25% additional m2 for the school) and will generate revenue for the council.
The Architects Appraisal Panel has strongly advised against this use of the space.

The Victorian Society objected, as did Resident Associations and other campaigners spearheaded by Julian Lloyd Webber to have Marlborough listed, but the Council ignored them and granted planning permission anyway.
English Heritage, in their report, say that they received representations against listing Marlborough from both the local authority and the planning developers.

Julian Lloyd Webber said: "This is dreadful news. It will be a crying shame if this beautiful and historic building is demolished because the listing came too late. Once it's gone it's gone. It is a truly desperate situation and indeed a murky one as far as I'm concerned. When you have a company as big as John Lewis involved who already have a phenomenal amount of power in that area, my suspicions are raised. It shouldn't be about big business which prices everybody but the Russian Oligarchs out of South Kensington.
"The plans for the new school are completely out of character for the area. The existing Marlborough school building is beautiful and totally in keeping with the area. And what about the children? For four years, which is one child's whole primary school life, they will have to go to an interim school on the clearings site. This is far from ideal. It is a murky business."

James Hughes from the Victorian Society said: "In terms of an official response, I would express our deep disappointment at the outcome of the Committee discussion. The building is handsome, impressive and expresses the pride inherent in a structure that was intended to serve a public good. It has functioned adequately for over 130 years, and could very well continue to do so. The decision is short-sighted and one that in time will be regretted. It is a building which should be used and cherished and this part of London will be architecturally poorer and less interesting for its loss."

IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT JOHN LEWIS HAS ALREADY CASHED OUT OF THE CLEARINGS DEVELOPMENT, THIS HAS ALLEGEDLY BEEN BOUGHT BY MIKE ASHLEY.

FOR PRESS & BLOG ARTICLES, PLEASE CLICK ON LINKS BELOW:

http://www.kcwtoday.co.uk/2015/06/17/local-residents-and-parents-fight-to-save-marlborough-primary-school-building/

http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/petition-halt-demolition-victorian-school-9294290

http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/victorian-school-demolished-after-john-6333737

http://fromthehornetsnest.blogspot.co.uk/

https://savemarlborough.wordpress.com/
Draycott Avenue, London & Sloane Avenue, London

Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL

Links

Updates

2018-03-30 16:12:46 +0100

Please sign to ask RBKC to include Sutton Estate in the Chelsea Conservation Area:
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/protect-sutton-estate-from-demolition

2015-10-15 20:14:49 +0100

Marlborough Petition Speech at Council Meeting on 14th October 2015
www.facebook.com/savevictorianschools/videos

2015-10-01 10:34:52 +0100

Please sign the NEW PETITION to SAVE Marlborough PLAYGROUND!
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/Playground
Also, if you disagree with offices & shops on the children's playground, PLEASE EMAIL YOUR OBJECTION, giving your reasons to:
[email protected]
The Public Consultation ends on 6th November 2015.

2015-09-21 18:53:48 +0100

The public consultation for disposal of playground requested by the Department for Education is set to start this week but RBKC Council have already demolished nearly all of the perimeter wall around Marlborough School!!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/By1Ta4eDEiw

2015-09-20 12:12:35 +0100

JOHN LEWIS & RBKC COUNCIL ETHICS OVER MARLBOROUGH SCHOOL DEMOLITION QUESTIONED BY THE EVENING STANDARD & THE GAZETTE, IN TWO ARTICLES PUBLISHED FRIDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER:
https://www.facebook.com/SaveVictorianSchools/photos/a.119789565018895.1073741830.113852315612620/189527044711813/?type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/SaveVictorianSchools/photos/a.119789565018895.1073741830.113852315612620/189518224712695/?type=1&theater

2015-09-16 14:15:23 +0100

IMPORTANT! The 6-week public consultation over playground disposal will begin NEXT WEEK and when we have more details we will post them here so that you can have YOUR SAY!
Don't let the Council build offices and shops on playground & make the children play on rooftop play areas. This goes against DfE guidelines.
The planning permission should never have been granted without this consent!
Have your say and make them stop the demolition! Save your heritage!
Draycott Avenue this morning:
https://www.facebook.com/SaveVictorianSchools/photos/a.119789565018895.1073741830.113852315612620/188193511511833/?type=1&theater

2015-09-11 12:07:12 +0100

More destruction of Chelsea's beautiful Victorian Marlborough School - the Department for Education advised today that RBKC Council AKA "The Rotten Borough" know they are continuing these works of vandalism "AT THEIR RISK".
A six-week public consultation regarding the disposal of playground (playing fields, S77 School Act 1998) is expected to start soon.
https://www.facebook.com/SaveVictorianSchools/posts/185375215126996

2015-09-08 22:35:30 +0100

If you don't like seeing a beautiful Victorian building that SHOULD have been listed, wantonly destroyed and vandalised because of a morally corrupt council colluding with greedy bully-boy developers, you must join us at tomorrow's protest, Wednesday 9th September at 6.30pm outside Peter Jones!
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/events/boycott-john-lewis
The Department for Education informed us today that they have asked RBKC Council to put in a FULL application, for disposal of playing fields (playground) not simply change of use. A 6 week local public consultation is a requirement. The DfE have warned the Council that they are carrying out works "at their risk". Join us tomorrow and insist they HALT THE DEMOLITION NOW!
https://www.facebook.com/SaveVictorianSchools/photos/pcb.182495052081679/182494302081754/?type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/SaveVictorianSchools/photos/a.119789565018895.1073741830.113852315612620/183173712013813/?type=1&theater

2015-09-04 21:54:56 +0100

JOIN US AT THE "BOYCOTT JOHN LEWIS" PROTEST, THIS WEDNESDAY, 9TH SEPTEMBER AT 6.30PM OUTSIDE PETER JONES, SLOANE SQUARE! WILL BE COVERED BY LIVE TV!
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/events/boycott-john-lewis
http://fromthehornetsnest.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/a-happy-day-for-developers.html

2015-09-02 13:12:21 +0100

The Department for Education confirmed today that they have warned RBKC Council that if they commence works on Monday, it will be "AT THEIR RISK".
Did John Lewis Pressure English Heritage NOT to list Marlborough? Read the letter for yourself here:
http://fromthehornetsnest.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/blog-post.html

2015-08-09 21:51:51 +0100

Latest interview on London Live about NO application being made to Department for Education for disposal of school land
http://www.londonlive.co.uk/news/2015-08-07/primary-school-becomes-battleground-for-campaigners-and-council

2015-07-23 11:03:42 +0100

Thanks to everyone who came to the petition hand-in, you were brilliant! And thanks again to all of the 1800 who signed. Please watch this space, we may need you again soon!!!
Below are links of the hand-in on London Live and our earlier interview in June:

http://www.londonlive.co.uk/news/2015-07-21/marlborough-school-demolition-petition-handed-in-to-council

http://www.londonlive.co.uk/news/2015-07-21/controversy-surrounds-marlborough-school-demolition

2015-07-20 14:04:31 +0100

Please sign up for tomorrow's hand-in!
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/events/join-us-to-hand-in-the-petition-against-marlborough-demolition

2015-07-18 23:10:10 +0100

Please join us on Tuesday 21st July, 2pm at RBKC Town Hall, Hornton Street, W8 tNX to hand in the petition. Read more here:
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/events/join-us-to-hand-in-the-petition-against-marlborough-demolition

2015-07-12 19:02:11 +0100

Last Tuesday's protest was reported by Goolistan Cooper in the online Fulham Gazette, please follow link below:
http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/crowds-gather-protest-victorian-school-9616250