$40m revamp planned for Redlands school at Cremorne has neighbours concerned about privacy, traffic

STAGE one construction of a planned $114m building spree over the next 20 years has some neighbours of an exclusive Sydney private school worried.

The revamp will change the face of the exclusive school over the next 20 years.

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REDLANDS will soon echo not only to the muted sounds of student learning, but also to the rumble of earthmovers and the crash of jack hammers as the exclusive school embarks on a 20-year $114 million building spree at its Cremorne site.

Stage One — which will see initial investment of $40 million — is due to start before the end of the year, be finished by 2018 and deliver a New Learning Hub offering flexible, larger classrooms and open plan communal areas to support what the school describes as collaborative learning of English, Mathematics, Social Science, Visual Arts and Innovative Design.

A new music centre, plus new admin and pastoral care offices, and a large landscaped area producing more outdoor space and what the school calls, “improved visual amenity for students and neighbours” is also part of the Stage One package.

A 20-year building plan has been approved for Redlands at a cost of $114m.

An artist’s impression of the Redlands redevelopment.

Not all neighbours are happy with the huge building program with 13 submissions to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment received during the feedback period between June and August 2015. Six objected to the development.

“Key issues raised during consultation included overshadowing and privacy impacts on nearby residences, traffic and parking, and the suitability of the new buildings within the existing school campus and surrounding neighbourhood,” a Planning department spokeswoman said.

“In response, the department has closely considered these issues and applied strict conditions to be met in development applications for future stages.”

School Principal, Dr Peter Lennox, said Redlands was proud the government recognised the quality of the plans and said the expansion would have “a positive impact for both our school and local community”.

“Redlands has called this site home since 1899. It is where we have provided an excellent education for generations of students, and forged valued relationships with our community,” Dr Lennox said.

Redlands principal Dr Peter Lennox.

Funding will be drawn from the school’s existing reserves, bank borrowings, and donations from the Redlands community. No government funds would be spent on capital programs, said Dr Lennox.

“These plans will set us up for an equally bright, long and exciting future, with top-class educational facilities inspired by contemporary learning environments, both nationally and internationally.

“This approval has come after two years of planning, and extensive consultation within and outside of our School, including two public exhibition processes and numerous neighbour meetings.

“We are very grateful for the level of support for the plans from both within and outside of the

School,” Dr Lennox said.

Components of the five stages over the next two decades include a brand new sports complex and multipurpose lecture theatre, but they will have to be assessed by NSW Planning before going ahead.

A Planning department spokeswoman said the concept proposal was, “thoroughly assessed on

its merits and will help improve education infrastructure on the North Shore”.

Stage one of the plan will include a new learning hub.

Additional on-site car spots will also be available for teachers and staff, increasing from the current 19 to 86 spaces, in part to allay locals’ concerns about increased traffic.

“While today’s approved concept proposal means the school has permission to

renovate the existing campus, construction of planned buildings beyond Stage One

cannot take place until detailed designs and development applications are approved,” the Planning spokeswoman added.

Some of the school’s neighbours are unhappy with the plans.