First look at proposed new Station Square in Peckham

[spider69]

Why.

What have I missed over the last 50 years.

Bleak, dank and dirty

[Louisa]

I'd have the lot down, deep cleaned and rebuilt with some decent shops again and nice open pleasant space for everyone to enjoy.

Louisa.

[clockworkorange]

John k, why do you feel such a need to protect such a disgusting space. Its filthy, dark, dank,generates fear of crime if not crime itself. What's so good that it should be protected over a much larger public benefit?

[Otta]

For those that are suggesting the back of the station should all be transformed in to a beautiful open space for "all" to enjoy, you're dreaming. Even if the council did throw out all of the people that earn their living out of those units, they would surely sell to developers who would build top priced flats there for the sort of people they'd rather have in the area.

[Ridgley]

I think Peckham needs a face lift of some sort, especially the Station area going down to the Primark end. There a are lot of the same sort of shops it needs new investments.

[Louisa]

I'm still hopeful a big retailer will take on and renovate the existing Art Deco building which would be directly in front of the proposed station square on Rye Lane (former C&A years ago). H&M or a similar retail franchise would work well and be able to invest the money and time into restoring the building.

Louisa.

[Earl Aelfheah]

Louisa Wrote:

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> I'd have the lot down, deep cleaned and rebuilt

> with some decent shops again and nice open

> pleasant space for everyone to enjoy.

>

> Louisa.

Gentrifier

[Louisa]

I'd prefer to call myself a re-generator rather than a gentrified rah. Restoring Peckham's retail reputation of years gone by. Huge amounts of retail space formerly occupied by big brand names such as Marks, BHS and C&A with the next generation of popular shops such as Next, River Island or H&M. I think on the contrary to gentrification, big brand restoration to Peckham would benefit the whole community. Unlike LL with its collection of gift and boutique niche market shops aimed at the wealthy.

Louisa.

[clockworkorange]

Louise, the shops you're suggesting wouldn't take the whole building. Too big. Wrong format. Wrong demographics. But I like your thinking.

Should make rye lane one way, increase pavement width, improve lighting, signage, waste collection, evict and/or enforce consistent offenders, increase collections, and impose delivery restriction. Better for all.

Fingers crossed the planning app is approved, the cpo goes through, and the development comes forward.

[Nigello]

Clockworkorange for president!

[spanglysteve]

How about an M&S or Waitrose? ;-)

seriously though, I think I read somewhere on this forum years ago that when it was thought HS1 was going to route through Peckham years ago, British Rail compulsory purchased all the retail units so that they could knock them down. However when the route changed, they sold them back to the existing tenants. Therefore it's not easy to evict them. They mostly all own their property and so can run their businesses very cheaply. There is little incentive for them to spend money improving their property.

Of course if they were pioneering they would realise the value of what they have and do it up to sell to name brand retail.

[edhistory]

Peckham Society News Issue 142 Autumn 2015 page 18.

It's good to see that Station Arcade has at long last been recognised as an integral element in the unique "Peckham Art Deco quarter".

The article says the buildings were designed under the supervision of James Robb Scott (1882-1965).

Nice comment about the Crittall windows too.

John K

[LondonMix]

Louisa, the art deco building is being restored (planning permission was recently granted) and a change of use to a restaurant from retail.

[Louisa]

LM do we know who is restoring the Art Deco building and which restaurant will be taking it on? That is a huge space with two levels of retail (being a former C&A department store). I presume the upstairs is being turned into residential? I can't find anything on the planning site about it?

Louisa.

[LondonMix]

Put 135 Rye Lane into the planning portal for Southwark. I don't remember who was behind the application but one of the many things that was part of the multiple applications was a change of use from retail to food.

If you can't find it, I'll look tonight when I'm home.

Edited to update address correctly!

[LondonMix]

http://planbuild.southwark.gov.uk/documents/?casereference=14/AP/1285&system=DC

This one is the application for the restoration

[LondonMix]

http://planbuild.southwark.gov.uk:8190/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=_STHWR_DCAPR_52464

Change of use

[Louisa]

Ah LM I think we are at crossed-wires here. I was refering to the other Art Deco building sandwiched between the railway lines directly opposite the proposed station square. I believe it is currently some sort of pound shop. This was previously a C&A department store. Just wondered what the future was for this imposing building now the station square is getting the go ahead?

Louisa.

[LondonMix]

No idea. Take a look at the planning application for 133 Rye Lane. In the design and access statement the highlight all of the buildings that are earmarked by Southwark for redevelopment. I can't remember the fate of that one specifically but over the next 5 years the council clearly have plans to change the face of Rye Lane. I just hope its done well.

[Jeremy]

Louisa Wrote:

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> I was refering to the other Art Deco building sandwiched

> between the railway lines directly opposite the

> proposed station square. I believe it is currently

> some sort of pound shop.

Ah yes. "Mighty Pound", it's called. There are a couple of other smaller shops in it too. It's a nice building. Would be nice to see something done with it - even if it's just a lick of paint.

[Louisa]

I agree Jeremy. I just assumed as the station square redevelopment was directly in front of it, this would/could be seen as a prime retail refurbishment target and part of the bigger plan. Seems a waste investing all that money in this new space as a "gateway" into Peckham, and having this grand old department store highly visible flaking paint and shabby looking. I personally can easily imagine H&M or Next taking this large retail spot on no problem.

Louisa.

[edhistory]

http://planbuild.southwark.gov.uk:8190/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=_STHWR_DCAPR_9563201

[edhistory]

edhistory Wrote:

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> Peckham Society News Issue 142 Autumn 2015 page

> 18.

>

> It's good to see that Station Arcade has at long

> last been recognised as an integral element in the

> unique "Peckham Art Deco quarter".

>

> The article says the buildings were designed under

> the supervision of James Robb Scott (1882-1965).

There is a rare 1987 book (see attachment) Southern Nouveau by Chris Hawkins and George Reeve which provides a history of the Southern Railway Exeter works.

[Eileen]

spanglysteve Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> How about an M&S or Waitrose? ;-)

>

> seriously though, I think I read somewhere on this

> forum years ago that when it was thought HS1 was

> going to route through Peckham years ago, British

> Rail compulsory purchased all the retail units so

> that they could knock them down. However when the

> route changed, they sold them back to the existing

> tenants. Therefore it's not easy to evict them.

> They mostly all own their property and so can run

> their businesses very cheaply. There is little

> incentive for them to spend money improving their

> property.

Network Rail own all the freehold on the station site including the commercial buildings on Holly Grove and Blenheim Grove. They sold the leases in the 1980s for over 100 years so the leases still have 80 years on them. Any CPOs from the council for this development wil be buying the leases and the freehold remains with Network Rail. It is Network Rail who have allowed their properties to deteriorate and been repsonsible as a major landowner in the degradation of this core part of the town centre.

Peckham Vision created a map to explain the different parts of the site called the Peckham Rye Station Gateway, which you can see here in the panel explaining the development: http://www.peckhamvision.org/wiki/images/0/0c/A1_PV_Panel_05_-_Gateway_-_map_v.13_-_flat_1024.jpg

All the land within the black line around the station is Network Rail's freehold. You can see the original plan presented by Network Rail two years ago in the picture towards the bottom of the panel. All the land let to commercial uses would have been demolished and significantly large new buildings put in their place.

[Eileen]

Louisa Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'm still hopeful a big retailer will take on and

> renovate the existing Art Deco building which

> would be directly in front of the proposed station

> square on Rye Lane (former C&A years ago). H&M or

> a similar retail franchise would work well and be

> able to invest the money and time into restoring

> the building.

> Louisa.

This building is owned by Network Rail. It is on the list to be fully restored as part of the Townscape Historic Initiative (THI) which Peckham Vision initiated and which resulted in a ?1.6m Heritage Lottery grant for the Council run scheme. It will be launched in the next few months and is a 4 year programme. see http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200562/peckham_townscape_heritage_initiative/3874/peckham_thi_background_and_funding