Nishkam School Woodland Clearance an 'Ecological Disaster'

Neighbours claim work near fence was done without planning permission

The boundary after the clearance showing ditch filled in with sand

August 8, 2023

Work being undertaken by a school at its boundary fence in Osterley has been described as an ‘ecological disaster’ which neighbours say has been undertaken without proper planning permission.

Braybourne Drive is a cul-de-sac on which runs next to the Nishkam West London school. Previously on the border there was an area of mature dense vegetation and a ditch, called a ha-ha, which was designed to create a barrier without being visible and is believed to be over a century old.

The woodland also acted as a visual and noise barrier between the Wyke Estate and the school.

The school is undertaking a major development project, but work has taken place on Braybourne Drive which residents say was never given permission. It has applied to erect a 2.4m metal fence (Planning Ref: 01106/152/P7) and a 10m two storey extension (Planning Ref: 01106/152/P6) and still awaiting the council decision. It is contended that neither of these applications covers the removal of woodland vegetation or the filling in of the ha-ha.

Furthermore, it is claimed that designs submitted with the application showed that the woodland barrier on Braybourne Drive would be retained.

Braybourne Drive before the clearance (2008). Picture: Google Streetview

However, on Saturday 22 July workmen appeared at the site and removed a substantial amount of the vegetation and the ha-ha was filled in with sand. Residents querying the ongoing work were told that the school had ‘bought the land’ and had permission to do the work. Councillor Aftab Siddiqui attended the site and work was brought to a halt at 3.40pm as legally it should not have been taking place after 1pm on a Saturday.

Heavy earth moving equipment and excavators were used to complete the work with no site boundary fence in evidence.

The council was informed but residents were disappointed that the work continued after they were made aware. Councillor Tony Louki had made contact with the borough Planning Department the following Monday requesting an immediate stop to the work. Nevertheless, work continued on Monday and Tuesday before being stopped on Wednesday but not before the entire section of woodland along Braybourne Way Drive and sections on Stags Way were removed as well as the ha-ha being filled in.

It is understood that no formal order has been issued to prevent further work and the contractors ceased voluntarily. Local councillors and Ruth Cadbury MP have sought to formalise the stop and worked with residents, sharing documents and pictures with the Director of Planning and Building.

Barbara Stryjak of Osterley & Wyke Green Residents' Association, “The Nishkam School demolished, without planning consent, a huge section of woodland located between the Wyke Gardens Estate and the Nishkam School in Osterley, in what appears to be a series of egregious departures from the original planning consent granted by Hounslow Council in 2015.

“The woodland, which falls within the wider Osterley Park Conservation Area, is located in an ancient Haha (ditch) which the school filled with soil/sand.

“After residents cried out and wrote to the Council, MP and Councillors, the Council asked the school to stop the work. Residents have enlisted the help of lawyers who have written two legal letters, one to the school and one to the Council. It is an ecological disaster, as the woodland harboured wildlife and a variety of trees and shrubs.”

A visualisation of the school's development submitted with the planning application showing the woodland retained

The council says that its Enforcement Officers are looking into the matter and that it was unable to comment until the investigation has been concluded.

We attempted to contact the school for comment but received an out-of-office reply saying that nobody was available until the start of next term.