Project
Netley Campus
Year
2008–2014
Client
London Borough of Camden
Site Area
0.97
Number of homes
80
Homes per hectare
82
Local authority
London Borough of Camden
Awards
Planning & Placemaking Award 2016 - Highly Commended
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Camden Design Award 2015 - Highly Commended
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Education Estates Awards 2015 - Winner
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Netley Campus is a self-funded, mixed-use development in central London combining a multi-purpose education hub with housing. The Euston-based project includes 80 homes, a new community learning centre, foundation classrooms and a primary pupil referral unit. As well as extensive newbuild elements the project involved upgrading a Victorian school building and outdoor play areas.
PTE’s masterplan features 70 private homes, one- and two-bedroom flats, the sale of which funded the project. It also features ten affordable family homes - mews houses - that revitalise a disused alley to create a new public route through the neighbourhood. Flats are reached by their own lift - accessible from the street - and most are dual aspect for better ventilation and views.
The ensemble design enhances the surrounding townscape: the apartment block creates an important new landmark while a striking double-height entrance signals a clear route through the campus and connects sympathetically with the existing school building. As a nod to its Victorian heritage, the new block is clad in red brick, with timber battens marking the main entrance.
The school, which includes a specialist unit for children with autistic spectrum disorder and a Primary Pupil Referral Unit, had to remain safe and functioning throughout the two-year construction process. Netley Campus was the first major project to be completed under Camden Council’s Community Investment Programme.
PTE led a wide-ranging options appraisal process and then provided a full service from concept to completion.
It’s fabulous, it’s the future. It’s bringing together health services and education right from tiny children to the adult centres for learning.”
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Cllr Angela Mason, Cabinet member for children, London Borough of Camden
The Netley Campus really embodies the innovative nature of the CIP. By rethinking how we can overcome cuts to our capital funding for schools, we’ve been able to provide a new and improved learning environment.”
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Cllr Sarah Hayward, Camden Council leader
We have the highest level of deprivation in the borough and 25% of our pupils are on the special needs register. We have families that can be targeted to ensure they have the right kind of support or can even enter a range of classes that will better them. Being part of the complex allows our staff to learn from other teams that are in the building. We have the expertise to help the whole community.”
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Bavaani Nanthabalan, executive headteacher of Netley and Torriano Junior School, in Kentish Town
