A developer has slashed the number of affordable homes in the planned regeneration of Peckham ‘s shopping centre by over two-thirds.
Southwark Council is to review the proposal by Berkeley Homes to reduce the number of affordable homes in Aylesham Centre from 270 to 77 flats.
They want to demolish the building and replace it with a combination of residential homes, commercial property, and green spaces.
Council: ‘very disappointed’
The property developer wants to reduce the amount of affordable housing from 35% to 12%.
The council is concerned that the plans for the site by Rye Lane do not meet its housing needs.
Councillor Helen Dennis, the Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, told City London News that “every affordable home not built is a lost opportunity to give local people a decent place to live”:
“There is a huge need for more genuinely affordable homes in Southwark, and it’s very disappointing that Berkeley Homes has lowered its offer of affordable housing on the Aylesham Centre site.”
Berkeley Homes declined to comment on the story when approached by City London News.
Organisers of the campaign in a statement claim “the current proposal doesn’t fit, won’t work and must change.”
‘I’m worried I will get priced out of the area and lose my livelihood’
A petition opposing the reduction in affordable housing that was started by the Aylesham Community Action group has gained over 5,000 signatures.
It also calls for the protection of existing businesses, the creation of more green spaces, and an increase in social housing.
A man who runs a stall inside Aylesham Centre told City News that he and several other stall owners are in a legal battle with the developers, and are appealing to the council to protect their businesses.
Lisa, who owns a boutique on Rye Lane, is fearful about the future of her clothes shop.
“If they replace [the shopping centre] with high-end shops and apartments, what happens to my small business?
“I’m worried I will get priced out of the area and lose my livelihood.”
But some local residents are welcoming the potential investment in the area, hoping it would bring new opportunities and create more housing.
Others have called Berkley’s proposal “disgraceful” and feared that they could be priced out of the area.
Aylesham centre in Peckham where the proposed redevelopment would occur
‘Outrageously low’ number of affordable homes
A group of local campaigners have told City News that Berkeley Homes’ new proposal is another example of how “too often developers can justify lowering their affordable housing commitments.”
The 35% Campaign is made of residents and traders in the borough and takes its name from the minimum affordable housing requirement set in many new developments.
Jerry Flynn, a spokesperson for the group, said that councillors support their demand for 50% affordable housing:
Berkeley Homes’ offer of just 12% is outrageously low, the lowest we know of for a development this big. We also have no idea of how much of this will be social rented housing, which is what we need.
They add that with the government trying to encourage more home being built, “it does not bode well if developers like Berkeley respond by slashing affordable housing, instead of building more.”
What happens next?
The revised planning application is scheduled to be reviewed by Southwark Council’s planning committee within the next few months.
The council have said the proposal will be assessed against its planning policies before a definitive decision is made.
Campaigners and local businesses are calling for greater transparency in the process and a commitment from Berkeley to provide more affordable housing.
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HeadlineCampaigners condemn ‘outrageously low’ level of affordable homes in Peckham redevelopment plan
Short Headline'Outrageously low' number of affordable homes in Peckham redevelopment plan
StandfirstThe proposed number of affordable homes in the redeveloped Aylesham Centre has been cut by 65%
A developer has slashed the number of affordable homes in the planned regeneration of Peckham ‘s shopping centre by over two-thirds.
Southwark Council is to review the proposal by Berkeley Homes to reduce the number of affordable homes in Aylesham Centre from 270 to 77 flats.
They want to demolish the building and replace it with a combination of residential homes, commercial property, and green spaces.
Council: ‘very disappointed’
The property developer wants to reduce the amount of affordable housing from 35% to 12%.
The council is concerned that the plans for the site by Rye Lane do not meet its housing needs.
Councillor Helen Dennis, the Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, told City London News that “every affordable home not built is a lost opportunity to give local people a decent place to live”:
“There is a huge need for more genuinely affordable homes in Southwark, and it’s very disappointing that Berkeley Homes has lowered its offer of affordable housing on the Aylesham Centre site.”
Berkeley Homes declined to comment on the story when approached by City London News.
Organisers of the campaign in a statement claim “the current proposal doesn’t fit, won’t work and must change.”
‘I’m worried I will get priced out of the area and lose my livelihood’
A petition opposing the reduction in affordable housing that was started by the Aylesham Community Action group has gained over 5,000 signatures.
It also calls for the protection of existing businesses, the creation of more green spaces, and an increase in social housing.
A man who runs a stall inside Aylesham Centre told City News that he and several other stall owners are in a legal battle with the developers, and are appealing to the council to protect their businesses.
Lisa, who owns a boutique on Rye Lane, is fearful about the future of her clothes shop.
“If they replace [the shopping centre] with high-end shops and apartments, what happens to my small business?
“I’m worried I will get priced out of the area and lose my livelihood.”
But some local residents are welcoming the potential investment in the area, hoping it would bring new opportunities and create more housing.
Others have called Berkley’s proposal “disgraceful” and feared that they could be priced out of the area.
Aylesham centre in Peckham where the proposed redevelopment would occur
‘Outrageously low’ number of affordable homes
A group of local campaigners have told City News that Berkeley Homes’ new proposal is another example of how “too often developers can justify lowering their affordable housing commitments.”
The 35% Campaign is made of residents and traders in the borough and takes its name from the minimum affordable housing requirement set in many new developments.
Jerry Flynn, a spokesperson for the group, said that councillors support their demand for 50% affordable housing:
Berkeley Homes’ offer of just 12% is outrageously low, the lowest we know of for a development this big. We also have no idea of how much of this will be social rented housing, which is what we need.
They add that with the government trying to encourage more home being built, “it does not bode well if developers like Berkeley respond by slashing affordable housing, instead of building more.”
What happens next?
The revised planning application is scheduled to be reviewed by Southwark Council’s planning committee within the next few months.
The council have said the proposal will be assessed against its planning policies before a definitive decision is made.
Campaigners and local businesses are calling for greater transparency in the process and a commitment from Berkeley to provide more affordable housing.
