William Morris Sixth Form is set to relocate to a new site in Shepherd's Bush Road after Hammersmith and Fulham Council's Cabinet approved plans for a land swap.
The decision, made at a Cabinet meeting on Monday 12 October 2026, will see the acquisition of Hythe House, located at 200 Shepherd's Bush Road, which will be adapted to become the new home for the sixth form. This move is part of a phased land swap arrangement with the Department for Education (DfE).
The 'phased land swap arrangement' involves the Council acquiring Hythe House for adaptation, and subsequently, the existing William Morris Sixth Form site on St Dunstan's Road will be transferred to the DfE. This transaction is structured as a land swap with no additional monetary consideration, representing good value for the Council. The arrangement is conditional on planning permission being granted for the works at Hythe House, satisfactory completion of these works, and satisfactory legal, financial, and property due diligence.
Under the agreement, the existing William Morris Sixth Form site on St Dunstan's Road will be transferred to the DfE once Hythe House is ready and has undergone the necessary refurbishment and conversion works. The Council will not transfer the St Dunstan's Road site until Hythe House has been transferred to the Council and the agreed works have reached practical completion. The planning longstop for Hythe House is drafted as two years from the date of the agreement, subject to extensions.
Councillor Alex Sanderson, Deputy Leader responsible for Children and Education, highlighted that the move will provide modern, fit-for-purpose facilities for the sixth form, supporting continuity of education for students with a range of needs. The new facilities at Hythe House will be designed to provide improved educational outcomes for a diverse student population. Refurbishment of Hythe House provides an opportunity to improve accessibility, learning environments, pastoral support facilities, and the overall student experience. The plans should consider accessibility requirements for disabled students and students with SEND, travel, sensory needs, continuity of trusted adults, specialist support, and safeguarding arrangements.
A statutory school organisation process will be required before William Morris Sixth Form can move permanently to Hythe House. The consultation will include students, parents and carers, staff, trade unions, governors, responsible bodies, diocesan partners, academy trusts, neighbouring schools, SEND and admissions partners, ward councillors, and local community stakeholders. The consultation will seek views on the case for change, the draft School Organisation Plan, guiding principles, available options (including PAN reductions, federation, amalgamation, and closure), and potential impacts. A further decision will be brought forward following this consultation.
The Cabinet also noted that the refurbishment of Hythe House presents an opportunity to improve the building's energy performance and align with modern sustainability standards. The refurbishment is expected to include efficient heating and cooling, LED lighting, controls, and other appropriate measures. The reuse and adaptation of an existing building may reduce embodied carbon compared with a wholly new-build solution, subject to the scope of works required. The Education team will work with the DfE to encourage them to include low carbon heating and maximise any potential for solar generation.
The draft William Morris agreement includes development principles for the future redevelopment of the St Dunstan's Road site. These include a first right of refusal for the Council to acquire affordable housing units and a principle that family-sized social housing should be prioritised. The drafting of these provisions remains subject to final legal negotiation and client approval.
Further details on the Cabinet's decision can be found in the Public reports pack for the 12th October 2026 Cabinet meeting.