Row over plans for new London school in toxic air hotspot

A row has broken out over plans for a new secondary school on one of the most polluted school sites in London.

Campaigners have argued the move to build a new Harris Academy on the South Wimbledon site would be a “crime against children”.

The Harris Federation, which runs more than 47 schools in and around the capital, plans to move its new Harris Academy Wimbledon from a temporary site in Raynes Park to a new building next to an existing primary school. But that primary, Merton Abbey, has been identified by the Mayor as one of the 50 most polluted school sites in London.

The site is sandwiched between three roads, one a busy four-lane highway, in the High Path area.

The Mayor’s report said the primary school’s headteacher was “very concerned about the impact that the additional school will have on the transport network and air quality”. It also reveals that the High Path estate, directly opposite the school site, is being redeveloped and will be a building site for the next 12 years. The number of bedrooms and parking spaces there will double, adding to the congestion and pollution.

However a report commissioned by the Education and Skills Funding Agency found that the air quality was ­acceptable.

Peter Walker, a former cabinet member on Merton council, said: “If the planning committee approves a new secondary school on the adjacent land the action would be a crime committed against the children and residents of this part of London. There is clear evidence that such a development would seriously endanger the health of not just the 350 children attending Merton Abbey school but also to that of the 1,100 pupils at the planned new school and the residents living nearby.”

Merton council is set to make a final decision next month.

A spokeswoman for the Harris Federation said: “We are confident that the site is suitable. Parents in the area are fully behind the new school.”

A Merton council spokeswoman said the school was “much needed”, adding: “We take air quality concerns seriously and planning officers consider air ­quality and require adequate mitigations to be put in place where air quality has been questioned.”

A DfE spokesman said: “The Education and Skills Funding Agency ­commissioned an independent assessment into the air quality at the site specifically for the Harris Wimbledon project which found the air quality was acceptable. We take pupil and teacher safety very seriously.”