The Urswick School

At the Heart of Hackney since 1967 2014 THE HACKNEY SOCIETY SPACENews and views about Hackney’s builtS environment Issue 44 Spring 2014 // ISSN 2047-7465 © Avanti Architects © Avanti The Urswick School The Urswick School in Paragon Road was completely rebuilt between 2008 tribute to Christopher Urswick, Rector of Hackney from 1502 to 1521. According to and 2011 as part of Hackney’s Building Schools for the Future programme. The the school’s website, Urswick founded free £17 million new building was designed by Avanti Architects and work was carried education in Hackney in 1520. out by McLaren Construction. In the Hackney Design Awards 2012, The Originally considering a part refurbishment and a multipurpose sports centre with Urswick School was not only commended project, Avanti developed a solution that spectator facilities. but was voted People’s Choice Award allowed a full new-build project to be Winner. The judges commented on ‘the The building is made up of two elements completed within the original funding pleasing well-considered functionality with linked by the forum, a covered double height constraints. This was made possible by high quality robust detailing achieved within space, which acts as the main social and a land swap and phasing which meant a tight budget’. In addition, the building was ceremonial space for the school and allows temporary classrooms were no longer highly commended in the NLA Awards 2012 for community access to the assembly hall, needed; construction and pupil areas and received a commendation in the Civic sports facilities and dining area. The location were clearly segregated and the school’s Trust Awards 2013. of the sports hall next to the main entrance operations continued without wholesale approach also ensures the school’s sports contents disruption. specialism is showcased to the community. 01 The Urswick School The first phase of the new building, which Atrium spaces allow light and views 02 Building Watch: An Authorised includes dedicated suites of rooms for the down to the ground floor and along the Vandalism? teaching of English, Mathematics, Science corridors, and a flat green roof provides and Technology, was completed during 02 Building Watch: Wilmer Place an area for scientific research. The 2010. New ICT facilities and a library were 03 Building Watch: 195 Mare Street building has a manually controlled natural built during the second phase, and a third ventilation system. 03 Rarely Seen Hackney Murals phase involved the creation of external play/ 04 Hackney Society Events sports spaces and landscaping works. The Formerly known as Hackney Free and school, which specialises in sports and Parochial CE Secondary School, in 2011 04 Noticeboard science, has five purpose-built laboratories The Urswick School was renamed in 04 Publications Building Watch An authorised vandalism? By David Shaw The last few months have seen a The Hackney Society, local architect and Whilst in the last two instances enforcement disturbing level of damage to some campaigner Lisa Shell and others protested cases are being opened, it appears of Hackney’s increasingly threatened and intervened to halt a demolition which indicative of an increasingly cavalier attitude heritage, some of it even officially we claimed did not have full legal permission among some developers towards planning sanctioned. and insisted that the new proposals be law which seems increasingly lacking put to the Planning Sub-committee and enough power to fight back. As yet more In March, Hackney Council agreed to the subject to public scrutiny. In spite of expert legislation is introduced to favour developers total demolition of a row of Georgian shops opinion stating that the façades could be and further extend permitted development, and houses in Dalston Lane as part of a saved with small changes to the scheme local authorities are left with outdated scheme to rebuild the terrace as part of a (removing the contested need for open-plan legislation and insignificant financial controversial ‘conservation-led’ scheme. The shop layouts), the council agreed to the sanctions to resist the work of developers council, which owns the site, having bought demolition plans and the loss of the façades who choose to flout the law. it back from developers some years ago, and Georgian interiors. had originally stated that they would retain Yet it is perhaps not surprising that such the façades but then claimed that demolition In Hackney Road, development for a actions take place when the local authority was the only feasible solution. However, they number of flats to the rear of a locally listed chooses to ‘demolish to conserve’ and promised to rebuild the façades in a style building was granted permission with the seems willing to do so without engaging in that will emulate the original. caveat of façade retention. Yet in a matter open and clear debate on the options or of weeks the developer, claiming that the submitting themselves to scrutiny that could structure had become unsafe since the place them beyond reproach. original survey, had demolished the façade Whilst more punitive sanctions and without consent. stronger legal frameworks would help, local In Victoria Park Road, a number of shop authorities should not place themselves fronts have been hidden behind hoardings above the law and should be keen to ensure for months to allow some consented that heritage assets are protected. Better works. However, it has become clear that engagement and communication with the roofs and what appears to be much of the community is also essential and sadly the fabric of the buildings to the rear have Dalston Lane raises questions over process been removed. that remain unanswered. Wilmer Place By Nick Perrry The group succeeded in getting the In the face of this apparent conflict – a first Secretary of State at the Department decision that the court thinks there may As Spaces 42 went to press, proposals of Communities and Local Government be issues with, and a second, identical for 53 residential units above a (Eric Pickles) to temporarily halt any decision with an identical outcome – a team 45,000-square foot Sainsbury’s, on formal decision whilst he considered a of planning barristers, who are working at a plot of land hard by the southeast request to ‘call-in’ the scheme. ‘Call-in’ is no charge to the campaign group, issued a corner of Abney Park, were back before a little-exercised power of the Secretary second Judicial Review in the High Court on of State to take over a decision from 27 March 2014. Hackney’s planners. a Local Planning Authority, typically by This third formal application for the site was, asking the Planning Inspectorate to hold a This High Court has been asked by in fact, identical to one which the Planning local inquiry and then consider its report. opponents of the scheme to hear both Committee had granted permission for just Although the Secretary of State has wide Judicial Reviews together, in May, and to a month earlier, in August 2013, but which discretion to do this, in practice he does limit exposure to the costs of the Council had subsequently been the subject of a so only very rarely – typically where there and developer, should the second review High Court application for Judicial Review. is significant controversy, issues of national fail. Both the Council and developer have The re-submission was an attempt, by the importance and conflict between local and indicated they will resist these requests and developers and Council, to make a fresh national policy. vigorously resist the case put forward to decision in a manner that might not be the Court. Despite a deluge of individual letters from challengeable in the courts, and that might The Stokey Local campaign (which has the local residents and requests for call-in from be resolved before the existing challenge support of the local CAACs, The Hackney senior Greater London Assembly Members was heard in court. The developer also Society Planning Group, Abney Park from all four parties, including the current agreed to withdraw an appeal on a slightly Trust, etc) is facing increasing demands Chair, Darren Johnson AM, the National larger scheme which the Committee had on resources, and depending on what Planning Casework Unit of the DCLG refused in April, to avoid the significant decisions the Court makes, could be faced informed campaigners that the Secretary of costs to both the Council and applicant in with a bill for tens of thousands of pounds. State would not be calling-in the decision, participating in the subsequent public inquiry It has successfully raised over £15,000 and the Council proceeded to issue its formal that would decide such an appeal. since launching a campaign for funds Decision Notice on Valentine’s Day 2014. It came as no surprise to the Stokey Local last September. Meanwhile, a few days after the Committee campaign, who are spearheading the The court will probably make its decision made its latest decision, Mr Justice Collins opposition on behalf of local residents just after the local elections in May. and groups, that the Committee came granted permission for the first Judicial to an identical decision at its meeting Review to be heard fully in the High Court at For more information visit before Christmas. a hearing listed for May 2014. stokeylocal.org.uk 02 Building Watch 195 Mare Street – Update leave their pasts behind. Admission – highly sought after as much preferable to entering St Mary’s Lodge By David Shaw the workhouse – was by recommendation St Mary’s Lodge, which has been empty for from a prison chaplain, magistrate or Meetings between English Heritage, the 12 years, remains in a derelict condition (see respectable interested party, and was Hackney Society and Hackney Council articles in Spaces 23 and 40).

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