Plans for a new site for Harris Academy Wimbledon have been approved despite huge concerns over air quality and traffic congestion.

The school will be built in High Path, South Wimbledon, next door to Merton Abbey Primary School.

Councillors debated the plans for nearly two hours at a planning meeting on Thursday, November 15.

The controversial plans attracted a packed public gallery which included teachers and pupils from the Harris Academy.

The school welcomed its first cohort of Year 7 pupils in September at a temporary site in Whatley Avenue.

To make way for the new school, Elim Pentecostal Church will move from High Path to Merton Hall.

This includes the part demolition of the council-owned hall – a move that angered some residents.

At Monday’s meeting, Wimbledon resident Sara Sharp spoke out against the plans.

REALTED: Plans to build new Wimbledon school would be a ‘crime against the children’

She said: “A statutory duty to provide a school does not mean worsening air quality and our children’s health.

“Our children deserve to breathe clean air in order to learn, air pollution is raising a generation of children with stunted lung capacity.

“This proposed school development on this toxic site will worsen air quality not substantially improve it.

“It will affect the most vulnerable, going against the London Plan and Draft London Plan.”

Earlier this year Merton Abbey Primary School, on the same road, was identified as one of the most polluted schools in London in a list released by Sadiq Khan.

Ms Sharp was joined in her objections by Terry Davis from the National Education Union.

He said: “The new school is planned on a really tight site bounded on all sides by a very busy road creating quite a lot of pollution.

“I don’t think anybody would disagree that pollution is a major issue.”

RELATED: 'A crime against the children of Merton' - Harris Academy Wimbledon gets the green light

He added that pollution is dangerous particularly to young people. causing problems like asthma.

But Harris Academy principal, Joanne Larizadeh, said the 1,150 pupil school will meet “urgent demand in the community”.

Mrs Larizadeh said: “This new building will make a significant contribution to education in the borough.

“The Harris Federation, an experienced provider, is clear that the site selected is perfectly capable of providing a school that meets all curriculum needs.”

She added demand for places for the school’s first Year 7 was so high the school accepted 10 extra pupils.

The plans do not include playing fields which means pupils will be using publicly managed land in Nursery Road.

But Mrs Larizadeh said this problem could be overcome.

“I am confident about the journey to and from the playing fields for PE lessons with regards to the safety of my students and ensuring continued amenity for the public,” she said.

“Admissions are centred around three points, the furthest being 1.3 miles away meaning the majority of students will walk or cycle to school. Students will be rewarded for sustainable travel.”

Planning agent for the application Tim Spencer spoke about the air quality assessment carried out on the site.

“Our air quality air quality assessment is up to date, detailed and site specific,” he said.

“Our assessment shows there will be no significant air quality impacts arising from additional traffic to the site.

“The development is air quality neutral in accordance with the London Plan.”

Before they voted on the plans councillors had the chance to debate them and ask questions.

Councillor Nigel Benbow described the site as “highly unsuitable” adding that there is a major housing development planned opposite the school site.

The Abbey ward councillor said that traffic in the area is “gridlocked” at rush hour.

But his fellow ward councillor Eleanor Stringer said most residents she spoke to were on board with the plans, adding that improvements to a pedestrian crossing will benefit local people.

“We cannot ignore the need for a new school,” she said.

“More and more families have chosen to make our area their home.”

Concerns about the number of trees on the site were raised by Cllr David Dean.

But in the end the planning committee voted in favour of the recommendation to approve the plans.

After the meeting Mrs Larizadeh said: “Parents, prospective parents, children and staff are delighted with the planning committee’s decision.

“The academy has got off to a fantastic start in our Whatley Avenue building and we have so much more to look forward to as our permanent site is developed.

“With around four applications per available place for next September, the new school is much needed by families and we are all looking forward to seeing it take shape.”