Ed City : Camargue

EdCity is a ground-breaking new education hub, where organisations with a shared social purpose will co-exist and collaborate to enhance education standards in the local community, London and beyond.

The innovative education project in White City is being delivered by international education charity, Ark and Hammersmith & Fulham Council, partnering alongside the Ofsted-outstanding Harmony Neighbourhood Nursery and leading young people’s youth centre charity, OnSide.

The plans will see the existing Ark Swift Primary Academy and Harmony nursery site redeveloped to provide new school and nursery facilities, alongside a state-of the-art new Youth Zone for local young people, new offices for Ark and other tenants, and new private and affordable homes to help meet local needs. The scheme is an important part of the White City Opportunity Area and its interface with existing local communities.

Camargue supported Ark and its partners, including development manager Vengrove, through the planning and development lifecycle. This involved an extensive programme of consultation with parents, political stakeholders and the wider community; working with partners to develop a brand, visual identity and website to help articulate its offer for local people; and delivering bespoke additional consultation with schools and local stakeholders to help secure necessary government approvals.

By explaining the plans and the benefits EdCity would bring to pupils and the local area, we were able to win support for the plans and secure a positive decision at planning committee in March 2018. Subsequently, we delivered a bespoke phase of statutory consultation to help the project secure formal Section 77 consent from the Department for Education.