Plans keep school in motion

An ambitious project is providing new and updated facilities for the City of London Freemen’s School in Ashtead Park, Surrey.  Transport and travel planning support was delivered by Motion, as part of improvements to the quality and efficiency of the school’s listed campus.  The company continues to assist in delivering the long-term framework for the development of the school, taking account of expanding pupil capacity and the impact on trips to and from the site.

Proposals included the provision of an improved coach drop-off and collection lay-by, with room to accommodate four coaches.  Adjustments to parking arrangements were recommended to provide a more efficient use of space and to relocate car parking away from the main academic buildings.  Motion’s plans also included a new three-metre-wide foot and cycle way.

Successful collaboration

According to Andrew Shorten, Senior Project Manager, City of London Corporation, “The school site is set in 57 acres of green belt with a lack of public transport facilities.  Due to the rural location, people are travelling to the school by car from a wide area, on narrow country lanes, resulting in high traffic pressure at peak drop-off and pick-up times.  Motion applied expert knowledge to provide an objective assessment on traffic impact – their input was invaluable.”   

Motion Regional Director David Lewis adds, “We worked closely with the school to promote sustainable modes of transport and a safe walking and cycling route for students, teachers and visitors.  Successful collaboration with the architects Hawkins\Brown resulted in an efficient design for the coach lay-by and pedestrian access areas.”

Motion continues to work with the school and contractors to ensure safe and efficient construction vehicle access.  The first phase was completed in 2014 and included delivery of a new music school and a boarding house for 60 pupils.  Marking the second phase, a new sustainable swimming pool replaced the school’s original pool building which was lost to fire.  The design, which included a partially submerged lower ground floor, deep columns of all-timber construction and wrap-around glazing, won a national RIBA Award.  The refurbishment of the Grade II* listed main house and wider landscape improvements are currently underway.

An abridged version of this article first appeared in the Winter 2019 issue of Insight.

Image credit: © Jack Hobhouse