A new school will be built on a former Ministry of Defence site in Hounslow.

The plans were approved by the Hounslow Council planning committee unanimously on Thursday, October 3, and are designed to meet the needs of a local community expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

Reach Academy Hanworth Park are currently housed in old MOD buildings, however these plans will see their current facilities demolished and replaced by the development.

The 2.1 hectare development will be on Elmwood Avenue rather than on the current site on the High Street.

The new school will accommodate 1480 students from nursery through to sixth form.

There will be 90 nursery places, 630 primary school places, and 730 in secondary (280 of which will be sixth formers). Importantly, the school will have 30 dedicated places for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). The new school will also provide 200 new full time jobs.

Three new buildings in total will be constructed, these include: a five storey teaching block, a two storey sports building and a single storey nursery. There will also be a 'multi-games use area', a playing pitch and access parking on site.

Reach School plans overhead (credit: Hounslow Council).

Local concerns about traffic

During the planning process, many residents raised concerns about already existing traffic pressures in the area due to the schools location. The entrance on Browell's Lane leads to significant traffic at peak times, and there will still be an entrance here under new plans.

A Construction management plan and a parking management plan have been proposed as way to manage traffic congestion. These plans aim to ensure that traffic caused around drop off times can be properly managed and minimise disruption.

There will also be school travel plan implemented which will encourage sustainable modes of transport.

The school will promote walking, cycling and the use of public transport by students and staff in an effort to reduce reliance on personal vehicles, and therefore traffic. This travel plan will be supported by the 214 on site bike and scooter parking spaces.

East Elevation of the Main Teaching Building and its relationship with Feltham House (credit: Hounslow Council).

Councillor Tony Louki begrudgingly voted in favour of the plans as he is still concerned about traffic in the area, and remains unconvinced by what has been proposed.

He said: "People will drive, and they will probably drive distances.

"I will support this, but with great reservation on getting there, and great reservations on what's likely to be … a sub-standard school travel plan"

Construction is expected to begin in 2025.