Hillingdon Council's Planning Committee has approved plans for a new SEND school to be established at The Lodge, Harmondsworth Lane, West Drayton.
The decision, made on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, will see the change of use of The Lodge and its Annex from offices (Use Class E) to a non-residential education centre (SEND school) (Use Class F1). The facility will cater for 88 pupils aged between 5 and 19, with 66 staff members. The school is designed to offer a care model for local children with specialised support for those facing emotional, behavioural, and developmental needs, considered to be low-risk but with high care needs. This includes pupils with mild learning difficulties, emotional or developmental delays, or challenges related to early trauma. The school will accommodate secondary and post-existing education, complementing the primary-age provision already approved at Aviation House on the same site.
This new school, combined with the already approved SEND school at Aviation House, will create a campus capable of accommodating up to 128 pupils and 96 staff. The development aims to enable children to maintain connections with their community, friends, and family.
The plans include minor external alterations such as the installation of gates, fences, cycle stores, and associated landscaping works. Crucially, the proposal would not increase the existing building footprint or height, and external changes are described as modest, aiming to preserve the special architectural and historic interest of the Grade II listed buildings and the character of the Harmondsworth Village Conservation Area.
The development would retain 61 on-site parking spaces. To mitigate potential impacts on local highways, the committee approved conditions requiring a Travel Plan and a Car Parking Management Plan. For The Lodge, these plans will govern commuting arrangements and parking. Similar measures, including a staff travel plan, were imposed for the change of use at 5 Kewferry Road.
Measures to ensure the safety and well-being of pupils are also in place. The applicant has submitted a Noise Management Plan, a Good Neighbour Policy, and a Management Plan detailing how the school will be integrated within the community without causing disruption. All trips outside the school premises taken by the children will be supervised. It is important to note that Ofsted will conduct a rigorous review of all safeguarding arrangements, and no child can be placed at the school until Ofsted is satisfied with these measures. This process is separate from the planning committee's assessment of the building's use.
The decision was made subject to conditions outlined in the committee report and a Section 106 agreement. The agreement will secure contributions towards air quality mitigation, off-site biodiversity net gain, carbon offset, employment and construction training, and public open space enhancements. Further details can be found in the Public reports pack.