Are Richmond Council to fund new development in Richmond - including the SEN provison at Clarendon - with £10m

Haymarket, a large publishing company, put the following story in Media Week (one of their own titles) the other week; as you will see, there is a possibility of Richmond Council funding part of their plans to build a new media centre for the company in Richmond, which will include a potential rebuild of SEN provision on the Clarendon site.

We will be writing to the Council to find out what this means and if the £10m mentioned is new money, and what money may therefore be available in Petersham to prevent the sale of school land.

The story is full of 'possibles' rather than certainties but does suggest that there are some developments afoot...

Haymarket Media Group, the publisher of Media Week and FourFourTwo magazine, is in talks with Richmond upon Thames College about sharing its new UK headquarters in an "education and enterprise" deal.

Kevin Costello: the chief executive of the Haymarket Media Group (photo credit: AOP)

The proposals could see Haymarket working closely with the college, potentially sharing resources and skills. The publisher's target is to move in the next three years.

The college's governing body yesterday agreed to explore the possibility of Haymarket building a new office on the college's Egerton Road site to house the staff currently split between Hammersmith and Teddington offices.

The move would mean that Haymarket would be the largest employer in Richmond upon Thames. It has employed staff in its Teddington office in the borough since 1975.

Haymarket Media Group recently announced plans to relocate all 1,100 of its staff to a new purpose-built office, consistent with its "one company/one culture" plan.

The proposal would form part of the redevelopment of Richmond upon Thames College, which Richmond Council is funding with £10 million.

Kevin Costello, the chief executive of the Haymarket Media Group, said: "Haymarket's relationship with Richmond upon Thames is strong and we are keen to not only retain but strengthen these links.

"Relocating to the college site would create a unique opportunity for young people to move from school to college while experiencing the rewarding opportunities that a company like Haymarket can provide."

If the plans go through, the new development will include a new building and facilities for Richmond College, a new secondary school and a new building for Richmond's Clarendon School for special needs.

Costello said: "The juxtaposition of the college to us presents a range of opportunities for us to explore, both with their existing curriculum and the various roles and skills that we employ within the business."

Haymarket announced last month that it intended to move all its London based staff into one building. The plan is to move the publications currently based in Hammersmith to its building in Teddington before moving to a purpose built site.

Lord True, the leader of Richmond College, said: "This is a potentially pioneering and unique partnership and while there is still a lot to discuss. I do believe that by bringing Haymarket, Richmond College and the two new schools together on one site we will improve the quality of education and employment options for young people around the borough."

As well as publishing MediaWeek.co.uk and FourFourTwo, Haymarket Media Group publishes Campaign, Autocar and Stuff