Campaigners have applied for the PeckhamPlex cinema and multi-storey car park to be given protected status, in the hope of discouraging the council’s plan for redevelopment.
Eileen Conn, of Peckham Vision residents group, submitted an application for the cinema and car park – which also houses Frank’s rooftop bar – to become an Asset of Community Value (ACV).
If the application is successful, Eileen hopes the council will drop its proposals for “comprehensive redevelopment” of the site, as stated in its draft New Southwark Plan.
Eileen told the News: “We are drawing attention to the fact that this site has enormous community value.
“What the council have been saying is that they think the cinema is valuable, and that it can just be moved elsewhere.
“But the site itself, and where it is, also has great value. And this hasn’t been taken into account in the council’s considerations.
“The key thing is collaboration. We have said that we have called on Southwark Council to collaborate with the community to examine the long-term potential of the building. But they have not been interested. They are only interested in carrying out their redevelopment of the site.”
The site is guaranteed to be protected (until 2021-22), as stated in the lease signed by managers of the Peckham Levels project, which has seen parts of the car park converted into business units and studios.
The most recent draft of the New Southwark Plan states that after this point, its preference would be to earmark the site for 83 flats and units for small businesses.
The News reported in April that Peckham Vision had created an online portal, later used by more than 5,000 people, for residents to respond to Southwark’s consultation to the New Southwark Plan and object to the site being redeveloped.
Councillor Mark Williams, Southwark Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and new homes, said: “The carpark has been a real success with Bold Tendencies and PeckhamPlex, and now the Peckham Levels Project is getting ready to open this year.
“We’re very excited to see how this is embraced by local people. In the meantime we are considering the long-term future of the site, following the consultation on the New Southwark Plan.”