Ambitious regeneration plans in Southwark
Author: Cllr Peter John, Southwark Council, in the Guardian Local Government Network |
Southwark is a borough of immense diversity and our regeneration projects are some of the largest and most ambitious in Europe.
In the south, the Peckham, Nunhead and Camberwell areas will be enhanced and invested in. Camberwell will get a new library, Nunhead a new community centre and Peckham a grand, new multimillion-pound station entrance. A key part of this project will be discussions with local people about their vision for the area.
Bermondsey Spa, in the north, is already a multi-award-winning regeneration area with some of the highest-quality affordable homes in the capital. But improvements here have gone beyond buildings, to improving the social mobility, life chances and wellbeing of people who live and work in the area.
We have also not shied away from dramatic architecture – the brand new £14m super-library at Canada Water is testament to this. Designed by world renowned architect Piers Gough, it is an inverted pyramid which will be at the centre of an exciting public square.
The Shard, already an iconic feature on the capital’s skyline, sits in the heart of a unique regeneration site at Borough and Bankside, where safer walking places and better cycle and transport routes are being planned. Innovative use of Section 106 money from the Shard – which invests money given by developers – has enabled the council to provide facilities to train young people in the skills to work in industries that will be housed in the new buildings.
Addressing the housing shortage is a also priority. The council has promised to make all of its existing 54,000 stock warm, dry and safe, as well as building thousands of affordable homes across the borough. We will also fund 1,000 new council homes.
A lynchpin in our housing plans is regeneration of Elephant and Castle. The £1.5bn project with partners Lend Lease will include vastly improved transport networks and work on the infamous roundabout junction. Demolition of the Heygate estate has begun and this will make way for 2,300 new homes, around 35% of which will be affordable.
Just a mile away, the vast Aylesbury estate is seeing similar major changes with a phased building programme for 4,200 new, high-quality homes. The project is led by a strong community of residents, who have directed the progress and consultation themselves, supported by the council.
Across the borough, the council is working closely with other local groups to establish a genuine two-way dialogue to encourage and support them to achieve what they want for their local area.
Peter John is leader of Southwark council. Grow your own way, a new report from thinktank Localis looks at local approaches to regeneration and includes a case study on Southwark.