One step closer to a new school & 24 flats in West Putney

The Council has announced that the sale of the former Putney Hospital has been completed. Allowing it to push ahead with proposals to build a new primary school on the site.

NHS Wandsworth has handed ownership of the Putney Common site over to the council, which will now arrange for the building to be demolished.

The council has also entered into an agreement with the Commons Conservators to allow access across the common, and for common land to be used during demolition and construction work. A piece of land in Stag Lane will be sold to the conservators to make up for it.

The school will be an academy or a free school, which means that it will be independent of local authority control. It will provide 420 primary places from 2015 for children living in the west of the borough.

The scheme also includes 24 flats at the northern end of the site for which planning permission was obtained in July 2010.  Proceeds from the sale of the flats will help pay for the school.

People will be able to view details of the school scheme at an exhibition at All Saints Church, Putney Common on Monday, March 19 from 3pm to 7pm. Representatives of the council and the architect will be on hand to answer questions.

Putney Hospital, which is situated on the eastern edge of Putney Common, closed services to patients in 1998. It has remained vacant ever since.

Cabinet member for education and children's services, February 29, 2012="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"It's great news that the purchase of the site has been completed, and that we have reached an agreement with the conservators about the use of the common land. This new school will be a huge asset to this part of the borough. It will increase choice for parents and provide the extra primary school places we know we will need in the future."

February 24, 2012