Protesters join forces against council development on Peckham Green

By Grainne Cuffe, Local Democracy Reporter

Over 200 residents and campaigners have joined a protest against council plans to build flats on a green space in Peckham.

Southwark council is set to build 120 flats on Peckham Green, with construction starting on August 9.

But campaigners staged a demonstration on the green on July 31 in protest of the development.

They argue the space is frequently used by school children and locals and should be protected.

Protest organiser Lewis Schaffer said green space in nature-deficient inner city areas should not be built on, especially without community consent.

He said: “You don’t build on parks. You don’t build on parks in deprived areas and you don’t build on parks during a climate emergency or a pandemic.”

The council have argued the land is not a park – as it has no “open space classification”.  

But Mr Schaffer hopes to have this changed.

He said: “We want Southwark to announce that they will not be building on the park, that they will designate it a park to protect it forever, and begin to work with the community to make it more available.”

Mr Schaffer added that the protest on July 31 “went incredibly well”.

He said: “Just two months ago few people in the borough – let alone the immediate community – knew about this horrendous plan to destroy our public park. Now they know. And now we are letting Southwark Council know that we know. 

“We are planning more demonstrations. We are asking residents to communicate to their councillors, MPs, and the local media to demand that Southwark Council stop the planned building on the Green.”

Southwark have said the development is necessary to hit its target of building 11,000 council homes by 2043.  

Building development councillor Stephanie Cryan said the project will be 100 per cent affordable housing. 

She said: “The Flaxyard site was previously an area of privately owned derelict residential land, and has never had any open space classification.  

“While we are committed to preserving as many green spaces as possible, we also need to balance this against the desperate need for affordable housing in the borough.  

“There are currently 270 households on the housing waiting list in the Peckham ward, who could benefit from the new homes being built here.” 

Cllr Cryan said the council has worked with residents on the design of the new development and is “confident that it will enhance the surrounding area”. 

She said Sumner Road Park and the start of the Surrey Canal Park “are both within easy walking distance of the site”, while all the new homes will have either balconies or garden spaces. 

Cllr Cryan added: “The Flaxyard development is one of many sites we are working on across the borough to deliver desperately-needed council housing for our residents.  

“There are currently over 15,000 households on our housing waiting list. 

“These residents’ lives are being affected on a daily basis and some will be living in overcrowded accommodation.”

The council are considering a further 28 estates across the borough to build homes on.