The AGM of the Friends of Barnes Hospital, held at All Saints in East Sheen on 26 November, was an illuminating event on several fronts. The development of the site includes a non-residential mental health facility, a special school and residential accommodation.

London River Academy

As part of the free school programme, in March 2019 the Department for Education approved a new Social, Emotional and Mental Health special school to be built in Richmond at the former Barnes Hospital site. It will be run by the Beckmead Trust, who were chosen by the DfE.

Outline planning permission for the whole site was given on 12 June 2019 and the Richmond Planning Committee approved the application for the school on 10 May 2023. The opening was originally planned for September 2023, but due to a number of issues experienced with the appointment of the contractor and the site, this has been considerably delayed.

The London River Academy willl be a 90 place special educational needs school for children aged
between 7 and 19 years old, primary, secondary and post 16, with complex social, emotional, mental health issues. The school will accommodate:

three primary school classrooms

nine secondary school classrooms

three post 16 classrooms

Each classroom will accommodate up to 8 pupils.

The school is situated on the southern part of the site. The form and mass of the school has three distinct elements: a three storey teaching block; a double height hall; and a single storey ancillary block.

Given the complex needs of the students, most will travel to school in a minibus or taxi. Three minibus spaces have been provided along with an area for taxis.

Work on the site has started but it is not known exactly when the school will be available.

Residential accommodation

The residential aspect of the site has also been delayed. Rumours abound as to the reasons, but there is no firm evidence in the public domain.

There is a ‘neighbourhood meeting’ at Mortlake Hall at 6pm on Wednesday 3 December 2025. Perhaps further information will emerge then.