A former PlayStation office could be razed to pave the way for a new school, as proposals have been put forward for temporary structures to finally welcome students on site.
It was initially suggested that Kings Leadership Academy would inaugurate its fifth location in Wavertree in September last year, in response to the surging need for school places throughout the city,
Planning permission for the conversion from office buildings was only approved earlier this year, so the academy's launch has been deferred to this coming autumn. Fresh applications have been lodged with Liverpool Council to erect temporary buildings on the ex-Sony premises on Rathbone Way, aiming to have pupils in place for the new academic year.
But new documents suggest that despite initial plans for repurposing the existing structure, the old office complex might instead be demolished, with a new building erected to meet the school's needs. In the interim, temporary facilities may be constructed to last up to four years, pending approval from the city council.
In the previous year, the academy announced it had initiated the process to select and commission a contractor for the site's redevelopment at Wavertree Technology Park. This site had been home to PlayStation's producer Sony for over 25 years.
A council report from last November hinted that the Department for Education (DfE) "cannot confirm" the readiness of the site by September. The DfE, when approached by the LDRS for comments, did not provide any additional information.
The Department for Education (DfE) has lodged a planning application to create a temporary two-storey structure with the capacity to house 210 students. This interim facility is part of a phased plan to establish the new school.
An accompanying design and access report details that an assessment of the current structures on the premises, including offices, concluded there was "limited potential" for their revamp to attain the standards needed for a school environment. The statement said: "The existing Sony building currently does not meet the minimum design standards for use as a school.
"Additionally, the ultimate cost of refurbishing the Sony building would outweigh any benefit of reusing the structure. A new purpose-built school would be more efficient and suitable to the site."
It's hoped there would eventually be an L-shaped, three-storey educational complex on the site, featuring a multi-purpose games area, plus playing fields designed to accommodate a football pitch. For now, the DfE's proposed stopgap arrangement includes a layout with a principal hall, dining space, staff rooms, offices, and educational zones downstairs. The upper tier plans would include classrooms, additional offices, and a group room arrangement.
The school would be the newest addition to the Great Schools Trust's academies, joining existing establishments in Dingle, Bootle, Warrington and Bolton. A date for the new plans to be presented to Liverpool Council's planning department is yet to be confirmed.
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