#peckham square

[peckham-platform]

Arts Award 2018 // Here are photographs of our part time architects’ research trip. We visited Peckham Square to create drawings taking inspiration from Peckham Square and the old Peckham Platform building.  We also visited Whitten Timber to learn all about wood. Did you know softwoods mostly grow in the Northern Hemisphere and hardwoods mostly grow in the Southern Hemisphere and around the Equator?

[peckhampeculiar]

Guest post: Call for objection to Peckham Arch/Square development

This month Southwark Council are to advertise their intention to dispose of public space at Peckham Square including Peckham Arch, as required by the Local Government Act 1972.

Southwark Council have a statutory obligation to consider any objection to the disposal of the open public space. Now as previously we call on Southwark to work with us and reconsider this divisive “blandification” of Peckham.

At its inception Peckham Square was intended for “entirely public purposes” yet Southwark councillors took the decision to develop the public square for the most part with private housing despite over 100 objections to the proposal at planning.

The unique arched canopy hosts a weekly farmers’ market as well as independent street food and coffee stalls throughout the week. The Arch is home to much-loved public art including a light sculpture and accommodates regular events throughout the year such as carols under Peckham’s Christmas tree. 

In February 2017 hundreds convened under the Arch marking the Peckham Pride event. Despite constant use, an application to list the arched canopy as an “Asset of Community Value” was rejected by Southwark Council in November 2016. They stated: 

“In the opinion of the council the property is not of community value because the application has not demonstrated that the asset’s current main use (or in the past) furthers the social wellbeing or social interests of the community…”

The proposal to develop the north of the square followed a series of “co-design” workshops, the aim of which described by Southwark as:

“To influence the future of Peckham in a positive way working in the co-design process and bringing communities together to shape the future of Peckham Square.”

However the crucial decision to remove the Arch and develop the square for housing was taken by councillors outside of the “co-design” forum after only a handful had been consulted. An independent report on learning the lessons from “co-design” in Peckham criticised the process for lacking clarity in the decision-making process and failures in developing community trust.

Claims were made during the “co-design” process that removal of the Arch could make way for 100 homes to be created surrounding the square. The proposed scheme consists of 17 flats, four of which are to be council homes.

Despite Southwark claims, the proposed scheme results in a net loss of green space including removal of four mature trees. £500,000 will be spent to clear the site.

Local group @SavePeckhamArch are calling on all who believe in public space to object to this proposal by signing the petition and objecting to the privatisation of Peckham Square. Sign the petition here:

https://www.change.org/p/peter-barker-object-to-privatisation-of-peckham-square-and-demolition-of-peckham-arch

[peckhampeculiar]

Christmas lights switch on

The Peckham Square Christmas tree lights will be switched on next week – and everyone who lives and works in SE15 is invited.

The event takes place on December 11 from 5-6pm under the arch in Peckham Square. The Mayor of Southwark will switch on the lights and children from Oliver Goldsmith primary school will sing carols.  

Local businesses the Kentish Drovers, The Hope and Morrisons have donated festive fare for the evening, which will be served free of charge. There will be hot drinks, teas, coffees, hot apple juice, mince pies and Christmas cake.

[peckhampeculiar]

Foxy photo

Camberwell resident and MC @solocypher managed to take this incredible snap of a fox on the Surrey Canal Walk without using a zoom lens. 

“I was as close as it looks to the fox,” he said. “He was very inquisitive and afterwards followed me closely right to the edge of Peckham Square.”