DETAILS were revealed on Friday (June 15) of West London Free School’s plans for its future home.

The school, which opened last year in Cambridge Grove, is set to move into historic Palingswick House in King Street, Hammersmith, in September 2013.

Charities and community organisations which previously occupied the building were moved out to allow for the redevelopment, and the plans have gone on show in an exhibition at the Cambridge Grove site which continues tomorrow morning.

Neighbours are encouraged to have their say on the proposals, which include a four-storey extension at the back of the house to house 18 classrooms, an assembly hall and five science labs. Journalist and author Toby Young, who founded the school, insists retaining the character of the house is fundamental to the refurbishment.

He said: “Palingswick House will be preserved in its entirety, we’re not going to remove a single brick. People are understandably keen to preserve it as it’s an attractive building with some historical merit, so we’re only going to build at the rear.

“I hope that local people are sympathetic to our proposal because if Palingswick House wasn’t going to be a secondary school, the council would sell it off to a residential developer and it would be torn down and made into flats. I think it’s an attractive alternative and there’s a real need for additional secondary school places in the borough.”

Plans are also under way to create a primary school at the Cambridge Grove site, which will also open next September, as well as a sixth form, although at this stage a suitable location has yet to be found.

Architect Chris Wieszczycki hopes residents will approve of the plans as the extension is the same height as the house and will be keeping in character with the building.

He said: “The image of the building is very attractive and will represent the ethos of the school with its classical learning. It’s not a listed building but it is of local historical interest and through talking with local people we know that most like the building and want it to stay.

“Other options could have seen it butchered but we were determined to extend it, and we can achieve this by building at the back. This also means that all the noisier bits are at the front so it won’t be disturbing neighbours.”

l The exhibition runs from 4pm to 6pm today and 10am to noon tomorrow.