Key Points
- Hammersmith & Fulham Council has appointed Higgins Partnerships as main contractor for the £47m rebuild of Avonmore Primary School and the delivery of 91 new homes in Hammersmith.
- The scheme is part-funded by the housing element, with more than half of the homes described as affordable in one project update and around half described as affordable in a later local report.
- The new school will replace Avonmore Primary School’s existing buildings and is designed to provide nursery-to-Year 6 learning space, a playground and flexible teaching areas.
- The project also includes two residential buildings and wider sustainability measures, including a net-zero target, green roofs, tree planting, and renewable energy systems.
- A later report said Department for Education approval has now cleared the way for demolition to proceed, with works expected to begin this summer and the school due to reopen in summer 2028.
Hammersmith (West London News) July 8, 2026 – Avonmore redevelopment has been reported through BPTW’s project update and later local democracy coverage, which together outline the contractor appointment, the scheme design, and the latest approval milestone.
The project is being delivered on Avonmore Road and is linked to the council’s Community Schools Programme, which uses housing development on school land to help fund school rebuilding.
The reporting also names the main project team, including BPTW as lead designer for the residential buildings and Walters & Cohen Architects for the school design.
What has Higgins been appointed to do?
As reported by the project announcement, Higgins Partnerships has been appointed as main contractor to deliver the rebuild of Avonmore Primary School and the associated homes.
The same report states that the scheme is valued at £47m and will combine a new school with 91 homes on the site.
BPTW said the arrangement is intended to keep the school at the centre of the site, with homes on both sides to support the wider community layout.
How will the school be designed?
The new school is set to create a one-form-entry primary school environment with nursery provision and a playground, replacing buildings that do not meet modern standards, according to the project update.
BPTW said the design includes three to six-storey elements, with the school placed centrally and the homes flanking it to reflect the dense urban setting.
The project also includes 2,297 square metres of flexible learning space and more than 1,500 square metres of outdoor play areas across three levels, including rooftop provision.
Why is the housing element included?
The council’s project material says the homes help fund the school as part of the Community Schools Programme.
BPTW said the scheme also helps meet local authority housing targets while supporting delivery of the new school.
The project update says over 50% of the homes will be affordable, while the later local report describes around half as affordable and says 91 flats will be built on-site.
What did the council and contractor say?
Declan Higgins, chief executive of Higgins Partnerships, said the scheme shows how partnership-led development can meet housing demand while also delivering benefits for the local community.
A fulham/hammersmith/">hammersmith-and-fulham/">Hammersmith and Fulham Council spokesperson said the authority is “excited” to rebuild Avonmore and create state-of-the-art learning spaces for pupils and teachers.
The council also said it has a strong record on educational success and is building a record amount of affordable homes locally.
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What is the latest project timeline?
According to the local report, the scheme received government approval from the Department for Education after the council’s November 2024 planning decision.
That report says demolition is expected to start in the summer, with the contractor taking over the site in April, demolition beginning in July or August, and the new main school building due for completion by summer 2028.
The homes are then expected to be ready by the winter, according to the council timeline cited in the report.
Background of the development
The Avonmore scheme has been under discussion for several years and was approved by Hammersmith and Fulham Council in November 2024 after local committee consideration.
The planning stage drew objections, while Historic England raised concerns about the loss of Gordon Cottage, a 19th-century building on the site, though it did not object to the scheme overall.
The project also forms part of the council’s wider plan to use housing development on school sites to help modernise borough schools and expand affordable housing.
Prediction for residents and families
For local families, the most immediate effect is likely to be a period of disruption during demolition and construction, followed by a school with newer facilities and more modern learning space.
For residents seeking housing, the scheme adds 91 homes to the area, with a significant affordable element, which may help support local access to accommodation.
For the wider borough, the project may become a template for how councils combine school rebuilding with housing delivery, especially where funding pressures make standalone school investment harder.
