Richmond Council has warned that the Government's decision to axe the proposed Livingstone Academy West London could put further pressure on already overstretched secondary school places in the east of the borough.

The Department for Education has decided not to proceed with the free school proposed to be located at the Stag Brewery site in Mortlake, prompting the Council to formally appeal the decision and urge Ministers to rethink.

The Livingstone Academy had been planned following several years of joint work between Richmond Council and the Aspirations Academies Trust, with the aim of addressing a long-standing shortfall in secondary school places for local children.

Councillor Gareth Roberts, Leader of Richmond Council, said the move was "deeply disappointing", warning that demand for secondary places in the east of the borough already exceeds supply.

"For several years now, children in the east of our borough have missed out on being offered a secondary school place on National Offer Day because demand already exceeds supply," he said.

"That is not a future risk – it is happening now.

"The Livingstone Academy would have provided much-needed capacity and real choice for families, particularly with significant housing growth planned locally. Decisions about school places must reflect the realities communities are facing on the ground."

While the Council said it supports the Government's ambition to expand inclusive provision for children with special educational needs, it stressed this should not be at the expense of sufficient school places for pupils without additional needs.

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The Council has also rejected suggestions that unmet demand could be addressed by pupils travelling to schools in neighbouring boroughs.

Councillor Julia Cambridge, Chair of the Education and Children's Services Committee, said families want their children to attend school close to home.

"Expecting young people to travel out of the borough is not a realistic or fair solution – particularly given the continued closure of Hammersmith Bridge and the travel challenges that creates," she said.

She added that the Livingstone Academy would have offered a distinctive curriculum, with a focus on technology and digital creativity not currently available in Richmond or nearby boroughs.

Richmond Council is now calling on Ministers to reconsider the decision.

"Our priority is simple," Councillor Roberts added. "Every child in Richmond deserves access to a local school place. We will continue to press government to work with us to make that happen."

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