Replacement school dining hall at Alleyns School, Townley Road, London SE22

What was proposed

The application proposed demolishing the existing dining hall and building a multi-purpose education building with dining, teaching, meeting and assembly spaces.

“This application seeks demolition of the current dining hall and the construction of a part one, two and three-storey multi-purpose education building providing two dining halls, flexible classrooms, meeting rooms and breakout spaces, as well as an assembly hall for 220 pupils, an energy centre and roof terrace. There would be no increase in the number of pupils on site. The new building would provide 2440 sqm Gross Internal Area.”

“The existing ‘Great Hall’ would move to the new proposed building, whilst the library moves to the ‘Great Hall’ and the library is renovated as part of the Sixth Form Centre (internal works only that do not require planning permission). This means that the proposed new building would provide the main school hall.”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The school occupies a long-established education site containing varied school buildings, trees, heritage designations, Metropolitan Open Land and a nature conservation site.

“Alleyn’s School is an independent, co-educational school for 4-18 year olds, located in Townley Road on the Dulwich/East Dulwich borders. The school has been present on the site since the 1880s, with the main school building comprising a substantial three-storey red brick building in the Revival Jacobean style with two-storey flanking bays, and a notable Dutch gable and central cupola with clock.”

“The wider school site, predominantly the playing fields, is designated as Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) and a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).”

Officer report

Planning history

There was no recent planning history for the dining hall, although several recent applications had been made elsewhere on the wider school site.

“There is no recent planning history for the dining hall, however there are a number of recent applications on the wider school site.”

Officer report

Neighbour impacts considered

Officers concluded that the proposal would not cause unacceptable overlooking, privacy loss, enclosure, overshadowing, noise, traffic or parking impacts, subject to controls.

“Having regard to the separation distances, the orientation of neighbouring properties and the screening provided to the roof terrace, the development would not result in any unacceptable overlooking, loss of privacy, perception of overlooking, or an overbearing impact. In addition, given the oblique relationships and street separation, it is not considered that the development would result in any harmful sense of enclosure.”

“A condition limiting hours of use of the roof terrace has also been recommended to ensure that there would not be any unacceptable noise impacts to neighbouring occupiers at inappropriate times. This condition allows the roof terrace to be used only between 08:00 and 18:00 on weekdays and 09:00 and 17:00 on weekends and bank holidays.”

Officer report

Who spoke at the meeting

The objectors’ spokesperson, the applicant and a ward member addressed the committee, while no qualifying local supporters spoke.

Committee discussion

Members asked officers questions, heard from the speakers and debated the application before voting on the proposal.

“Members further debated on the application.”

Minutes

The vote

A motion to grant permission with the report’s conditions and amended conditions was carried.

“A motion to grant the application subject to conditions set out in the officer’s report and amended conditions set out in the addendum report, was moved, seconded, put to the vote and declared carried.”

Minutes

The decision

Planning permission was granted subject to conditions, amended conditions and completion of a Section 106 legal agreement, with refusal authorised if the agreement was not completed by 30 September 2026.

“That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions and amended conditions set out in the report and addendum report and the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement.”

“In the event that paragraph 1 above is not met by 30 September 2026, the director of planning and growth be authorised to refuse planning permission, if appropriate, for the reasons set out in paragraph 94 of the report.”

Minutes