SCEGGS redevelopment: IPC approves masterplan, blocks demolition of Wilkinson House

Prestigious Sydney girls school SCEGGS and its plans for a $50 million redevelopment have suffered a significant blow after the Independent Planning Commission delivered a shock verdict.

Proposed design of the new Wilkinson House development, which has been knocked back. Picture: Tanner Kibble Denton Architects

Prestigious Sydney girls school SCEGGS plans for a $50 million redevelopment have suffered a significant blow after the Independent Planning Commission blocked the first stage.

The commission on Friday gave its blessing to a major rejuvenation but backed residents in deciding not to support the demolition of heritage-listed Wilkinson House, formerly a block of flats, which the school argued was outdated for modern education.

It means most of the schools’ plans will go ahead, including a new three-storey administration building, a multipurpose seven-storey education and childcare building, and upgraded school entrances and drop-off facilities.

Local residents fought against the plan to demolish Wilkinson House. Picture: John Appleyard

“The concept proposal is approved with the exception of the demolition of Wilkinson House … The Stage 1 Works (the demolition of Wilkinson House, the construction of the replacement Wilkinson House building and the temporary demountable classrooms on the Sports Hall) are not approved,” it stated.

“The commission is of the view that too much weight had been given to the ‘circumstances of the case’, being the need to demolish in order to provide contemporary education on the site, and not enough to the actual impacts of demolition on the heritage values of the site and the streetscape.”

It found a compelling case had not been presented to justify knocking down and redeveloping the building, at a cost of $9.6 million, noting its historic significance to the streetscape of Forbes St, something that the proposed new design would not enhance.

Indicative design of proposed restored Barham House and multipurpose building. Picture: Tanner Kibble Denton Architects

L to R: Richard Lile, Tim Brooker, Rosalie Brooker, Stacey Keating with Charlie Keting – 6 months, Rodney Hanratty, Judith White and Guy Luscombe in Thompson street. Picture: John Appleyard

The commission also found a lack of evidence of structural uncertainty and found the costs of instead adapting the building were not prohibitive.

It comes as a “significant win” for residents surrounding the Darlinghurst facility, who have campaigned to save the building claiming locals were caught in the crossfire of an “arms race” for Sydney’s best students.

Forbes St resident Rodney Hanratty called the decision a victory for heritage and the community and accused SCEGGS of acting like an “aggressive developer”.

“It was a classic Goliath vs David battle, with the local community spending a lot of time and significant amount of their own money up against one of the wealthiest private schools in the country, and thankfully common sense prevailed,” he said.

An artist's impression of the new multipurpose building at SCEGGS Darlinghurst. Picture: TKD Architects

Retaining Wilkinson House was a large focus of submissions, with 69 formal objections, but the school maintained it had “reached the end of its practical lifespan” in its use as staff and classroom space.

SCEGGS – the Sydney Church of England Grammar School – is among the most expensive schools in the city, and charges almost $40,000 in fees for Year 12 students.

Principal Jenny Allum last year defended the school’s plan for Wilkinson House saying it was necessary to bring facilities up to date.

“Modern education needs to have more large space, it needs to be flexible for group work,” she said.

Both the City of Sydney and Sydney state Independent MP Alex Greenwich raised concerns over the proposal to flatten the building.

SCEGGS has been contacted for comment.