The Multi Academy Trust, Education for the 21st Century (E21C), is delighted to announce that the planning application for the permanent site for its new school The Eden Park High School, has been approved by Bromley Council The decision was made at a meeting of the Council’s Development Control Committee at the Civic Centre last night. This follows the approval on appeal of the planning application last week for the temporary site at Ravensbourne School.

This means the school can now open for its first intake of year 7 in September this year and plans for the construction of the new school in Balmoral Avenue can be progressed with the objective of opening in 2019.

Paul Murphy, CEO of E21C and Head of The Ravensbourne School made a presentation in support of the application to the Council members. “We are absolutely delighted for parents and students in Bromley,” he said. “There is a desperate shortage of secondary school places in Bromley, which is set to get worse over the next four years. This decision means there will be 1,600 new places available. I’d like to thank everybody who has supported the school throughout some difficult challenges over the last four years.”

Peter Fortune, Bromley’s Portfolio Holder for Education, spoke in support of the school and said that the Council ‘would fail in its statutory duty if it did not provide enough school places for the children of Bromley’. He explained that if members did not take action, the Council’s own data shows that there would be a shortfall of eight forms of entry this year increasing to 19 by 2021 Despite strong local support in the chamber, a local resident group asked for the council to reject the application and Chair of the committee, Peter Dean, who is also Ward Councillor for Kelsey and Eden Park in which Balmoral Avenue lies, tabled a motion against the application on the grounds of traffic impact in the area. However, only two other members supported the motion and Councillor Reddin tabled a second motion to support the application, which was carried on a majority of 14 to 3.

Head Teacher, Emily Codling, was clearly moved by the decision: “It’s been such hard work, with so much uncertainty for parents and staff over such a long time. It’s a huge relief and we can now look forward to providing Bromley children with the education they deserve in a first-class facility.”

There will be more details for parents on the development of the school on the Eden Park High School and E21C websites and social media pages over the coming months.

Based on information supplied by Ronin Marketing.