‘It will become a cultural wasteland’: Artists hit out at developers plans for New Bermondsey

Bermondsey artists have hit out at a developer’s plan to transform the area surrounding Millwall Football Club, describing the redevelopment as a money grabbing ploy.

Renewal’s New Bermondsey project –  approved by Lewisham council earlier this month – will see 3,500 new homes, a new London Overground station, work and retail space, and a major leisure centre built on the Surrey Canal Triangle site.

Lewisham council said the first phase of the project could start in 2026, with 600 new homes, including 200 affordable homes, and a new 800 seat auditorium for “cultural and creative uses”.

But, Lewis Henderson, 31, of Rollin Street, Bermondsey, said: “All Renewal cares about is trying to make money.

“They are going to get rid of the community here –  what they’re doing is terrible.”

Mr Henderson is a former Renewal tenant. His art collective, Zona Mista, based in Ilderton Wharf in Rollins Street, Bermondsey, was forced to disband last year after Renewal decided to evict it with just one week’s notice.

The collective which was made up of 25 artists and small businesses, had used the property for a decade and received funding from the Arts Council. But they were informed on February 3, 2023, that a new tenant was moving in.

Mr Henderson said: “It was a hostile, malicious, destructive practice. 

“We should have been given a grace period of up to three months.

“Renewal claim to be safeguarding artists, it’s obvious that is not the case.”

After involving a lawyer the group managed to secure a two-week extension but Mr Henderson estimated the losses taken on by everyone paying for moving, storage and “filling up skips with good stock we could sell” ran up to around £100,000.

Jordana Malik, executive director at Renewal Group, said: “We quickly acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the initial short notice period given, even thought it was entirely consistent with the terms of their lease, and the eventual notice period served was just under 6 weeks.

“At the time, we worked with Zona Mista to find them alternative premises and secured this for one business. The compensation claim that was offered was never paid because the property was handed back to Renewal with extensive damage to the electrics, with evidence of illegal tampering.”

But, Mr Henderson said as soon as they moved out Renewal stopped all communication with the artists.

Now running a record label and club night, Deptford Northern Soul Club records, Mr Henderson said he has “no faith” in Renewal’s ability to work with the community.

He said: “London has a really exciting arts scene and Bermondsey plays a really important part in that but this development is going to create a cultural wasteland.

“Venue MOT – where Jamie XX just launched his latest album – is earmarked to be demolished as the first phase of the development.”

After the application was approved by the council at the start of August, Councillor James J Walsh, cabinet member for inclusive regeneration and Planning, said the plans were “much needed” as the local authority attempts to tackle the ongoing housing crisis.

The councillor also said the development would bring nearly £2billion of investment to Lewisham as well as jobs for people in the area.

But, another Bermondsey artist, who is a current tenant of Renewal and asked not to be named, echoed Mr Henderson’s concerns.

The 36-year-old said: “Renewal doesn’t have the community’s interests in mind – they don’t care at all.

“The proposals will not benefit people currently living and working in the area – it’s just new skyscrapers and expensive housing.

“A lot of the artists in the area have no confidence that a big project like this is going to have any positive impact.”

Renewal’s application for the New Bermondsey Project has been referred to the GLA and permission will be issued once legal agreements have been completed. 

A spokesman from Millwall FC said: “Millwall Football Club is committed, and looking forward to, working side-by-side with its local community as of part of the long-term regeneration plans of New Bermondsey and ensuring their voices are heard.”

Pictured top: Lewis Henderson has hit out at Renewal’s plans, fearing they could turn Bermondsey into a cultural desert (Picture: Lewis Henderson)