“If we fail to leave space in our city for creativity to flourish there will be no designers or artists left in London”
Commenting on the news that Southwark Council has rejected plans to turn the old Peckham multi-storey car park into 800 artists’ studios in favour of a rival proposal from a Mayfair-based property developer, Green Party mayoral candidate Sian Berry said:
“This space has been a key element of the cultural regeneration of Peckham over the past decade. It’s desperately disappointing that Southwark Council has decided not to respect that achievement and allow Bold Home to transform the multi-storey car park into a thriving collective of creative studio spaces.
“Instead of supporting that vision, the council has chosen to profit from the increased land-values the arts community has helped generate. It’s a very short-sighted approach. If we fail to leave space in our city for creativity to flourish there will be no designers or artists left in London, while the relentless drive to profit from property will intensify the housing crisis.”