Future Kennington

In October 2011 we transferred ownership of 2.4 acres of land at the former Lilian Baylis School in Lollard Street to the Black Prince Trust.

The Trust will invest over £2 million in improving and extending sports and community facilities on the site.

The Trust has received grant and loan funding from the Communitybuilders Fund and will be working in partnership with social enterprise GLL (Greenwich Leisure), the Community Action Zone, and many others to provide a wide range of sports, health and community programmes.

A ‘Community Service Agreement’ tied to the lease requires the Trust to provide a range of programmes that meet local community needs. The Trust will shortly be announcing the first of its ‘open days’ when locals can visit the site, learn about the new and improved facilities, and discuss what programmes they would like in the future.

The Trust has appointed GLL to manage the facilities for an initial 3-year period.

History of the Lilian Baylis School

Built in 1964, the former Lilian Baylis School site on Lollard Street is easy to recognise. Made up of distinctive two and three storey blocks, with courtyards in between, the site is grade II listed. It stopped being used by us in 2005 when the Lilian Baylis Technology School moved to its new home on Kennington Lane.

The site has been used for community programmes since 2005 when Lambeth Council granted the Sport Action Zone (SAZ) a short-term licence while continuing to pay for building maintenance and security. Despite having no security of tenure, SAZ attracted significant funding from companies such as Nike and the Football Foundation. The council continued to work with the Sport Action Zone to find a permanent arrangement that worked for both parties. The offer of intensive support and grant funding from the Communitybuilders Fund has allowed the development of a sustainable business plan and the founding of the Black Prince Trust.