ICC Centre & housing
Project proposal: an Intercultural Creativity & Conference Centre as part of Central Area Development, Peckham, London SE15.
The Project visualises Affordable Housing and Shops, grouped around a Garden Piazza on a 5-acre site opposite Peckham Rye Rail Station, with the proposed Centre at its heart.
The main aims of the ICC Centre are to provide space and facilities for all people of all races to practise and perform creative activites such as music, dance, drama, poetry, visual arts, etc., as a positive route to social integration.
an open letter
In a multi-cultural area like Peckham, many would agree there is a need for an inspiring multi-functional Centre where people of all cultures, religions, races can meet to share and develop their creative work or pleasures in music, dance, theatre, arts, crafts and literature.
Social Workers, Councillors, Politicians are currently saying there is a need to divert young people off the streets into well-equipped Centres where they can channel their energies into creative activities instead of becoming involved in violent gangs or crime.
Few local Community Centres provide spaces for music practice, studios, proper auditoria, art gallery spaces, internet facilities and theatre.
Our proposal is to build this Intercultural Creativity and Conference Centre (ICC Centre) specially designed to meet these diverse needs in a district where people of many cultures live, like Peckham.
Another important aspect of this project is that a beautiful highly-original iconic building like this will undoubtedly attract Londoners and International visitors to this central area of Peckham, provided it is set in the surroundings which local people would like of shops, restaurants, cafés, gardens, crafts and studio workshops, with affordable flats and maisonettes on upper levels.
The total site in view for all this is about 7 acres, next to a mixed-development Piazza in-front of the Peckham Rye Railway Station, currently proposed and outline-approved by the Council. However, Transport For London hope to build a tram depot covering the whole site!
If carried out, this would destroy the hopes of most local people for a vibrant regeneration project offering opportunities to local businesses, to expand in retail, catering, services, crafts - and thus employment of all kinds. There is also an urgent need for more-affordable housing in Peckham, which this project can provide.
The owners of most of this site would like to see a diversified development of this kind, as it would much increase its monetary as well as social value.
The Tramway Network planners can surely find other, more suitable, sites for their depot and thereby avoid destroying the very heart of Peckham. If new housing and employment opportunities are not offered to locals soon, street crime is likely to increase in the densely multi-cultural district.
Politicians, the new Mayor of London Boris Johnson, and local Councillors must surely become aware of the great possibilities offered by this new Development Project.
Copies of this letter are being sent to decision-makers concerned about the future of Peckham.
Jeffrey Gale, June 2008
01 November 2008
Peckham Project Talk, Slideshow)
at All Saints Church,
by Peckham Rye Rail Station
There was be a Slideshow-Talk given by the designer to illustrate his project for the development of affordable flats, maisonettes, shops and studios, around a Garden Piazza with an iconic Intercultural Creativity and Conference Centre as a focus, proposed for the Bussey Building Site, off Rye Lane, Peckham.
The Talk was be followed by Open Forum Questions to the Panel working for this Project: Dr Eileen Conn; Jeffrey Gale (Designer / Planner); Local Councillors; the Site Owners; and Local Activists.
follow-up enquiries please telephone Jeffrey Gale 01803 868744 or Sophie Christopher 01235 529266
20 September 2008
Peckham Green Fayre
12 noon to 6pm
EAP Associates had a gazebo stall at Peckham's Annual Green Fayre in the Library Square, close to Peckham Rye Rail Station.
Sophie Christopher was there to represent us and displayed drawings and plans for the proposed development of Peckham Rye. On show were site plans, affordable housing, commercial space for the local community and more.
Other attractions included:
- An exciting programme of International dance on stage
- Solar and Pedal Powered Stage and a Solar Cinema
- A busy marketplace of stalls of Local and London-wide environmental initiatives
- Environmentally friendly and recycled items
- Fun activities for all
- Information on how to join local community projects as a volunteer
Click HERE to go to the Green Fayre's web page.
9 September 2008
News from Peckham Vision
The Greater London Area Transport Committee is holding a seminar on 9 September 2008 to consider the case and prospects for the Cross River Tram in the light of the Mayor’s transport priorities and the current financial pressures on Transport for London.
The above images are from a publication by Peckham Vision featuring one of Jeffrey Gale's drawings showing the ICC Centre concept as part of the regeneration proposals.
The document outlines the case against the Cross River Tram depot which is proposed as part of the regeneration site.
Click HERE to download the document (pdf file).
See also Peckham Vision's website peckhamvision.org and also click HERE to view information about the seminar on the GLA's website.
