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Sparks fly over school’s electricity substation plans
DEVELOPERS behind the new City of London Academy have been forced back to the drawing board after neighbours staged a noisy protest last week.
Residents living in pretty Victorian terraces in Angel, which overlook the academy site – at the former Islington Green School – have told the council’s south area planning committee of their concerns over plans to re--site an electricity substation close to their Rheidol Terrace homes.
They complained that the school’s original plans placed the substation close to Raleigh and Packington streets and away from Rheidol Terrace. But three months ago, developer Galliford Try, working for academy sponsor City of London Corporation, began to build the 9ft structure near Rheidol Terrace. The firm was forced to take it down but City of London Corporation then applied for permission to keep the substation at its new location. A council decision has been delayed while officials carry out investigations.
Resident James Linforth said: “The substation is being re-sited to a corner of the site, which has the most open aspect, creates a barrier between the school and the community and will reduce play space for children.”
A City of London Corporation spokeswoman said: “The current substation is over 40 years old. The proposed substation will be a much smaller enclosure with better, modern equipment and less visual impact as there will be a planted green roof and green walls.” |
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