Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit

The Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth, supports secondary-aged pupils who experience difficulties accessing mainstream schooling. It provides a place where pupils are supported to prepare for reintegration back into learning.

DWD was appointed by Baxall Construction, the project contractors and the project is part of the Department for Education’s School Rebuilding Programme. The comprehensive demolition and rebuild will provide modern indoor and outdoor facilities to meet the needs of the pupils now and in the future.

The approved development proposes to demolish the existing school buildings, apart from the southern-most sports hall, and for the development of a two-storey administration block and part-two, part-three storey teaching block. The building has been successfully designed to achieve net-zero carbon and an urban greening factor that exceeds London Plan policy requirements.

DWD led on the planning from pre-application stage through to planning committee, which included extensive engagement with London Borough of Wandsworth and public engagement with local residents prior to the application submission and during the determination period. DWD worked closely with the project team, including the architect, energy consultant, heritage consultant, transport consultant and Baxall Construction.

Following a positive resolution to grant planning permission at Planning Committee, planning permission was granted in March 2024.

DWD also secured permission in late 2023 for a temporary modular building on a site elsewhere in the borough, for the school to temporarily relocate to during construction of the new school.

DWD is now advising on the discharge of condition applications and providing planning input to support the delivery of the new school by 2026.