Peckham Rye Station square – update on the works (Cany Ash).
Minutes:
Peckham Rye Station
Cany Ash from Ash Sakula Architects was present and gave an update on Peckham Rye Station. The presenter thanked the community council for inviting him to the meeting and acknowledged that Peckham Rye station and square was a big project which had nearly come to the end of the improvements stage.
The feedback that the council received from residents and local businesses was that more public space was needed in order to make it more desirable for people to meet and enjoy the open space.
Alistair Huggett, planning projects manager played an audio of what people thought about Peckham Rye Station and the following comments were heard at the meeting:
· In regard to the series of construction – ensure all improvements were maintained.
· Keeping a balance of everything for example the hair & beauty shop and coffee shops.
· To give people the capacity to compete with everyone else.
· Change people’s attitude towards working together and improve management and operation of public realm.
· Gathering intelligence of what could work and what doesn’t.
Copies of the Peckham co-design booklet (Peckhamcodedesign.org) were available at the meeting. The co-design project was initiated by the community of Peckham which involved local residents and businesses who wanted a greater participation in shaping their local neighbourhood. This led to the council commissioning the co-design project. The council and the GLA were jointly committed to fund the creation of a new public square in front of Peckham Rye station. The booklet contained a list of aspirations for the area and most people said they would like:
· More places to sit in public spaces
· More trees
· More public space
· Better lighting
· More places to walk
· The area tidier
· More small businesses
· More arts, culture heritage and cafes
· More cycling and community diversity
In response to questions, the next stage would be for the council to appoint designers and the brief on the co- design would then go out to consultation where people’s views would be taken on board.
Residents also referred to businesses that were located within the arches and whether they would be kept in Peckham. Alistair Huggett explained that the council were negotiating with the businesses in question to see if they would like to stay in temporary premises and return when the regeneration was completed. The council were looking at various options. The officer agreed to stay during the break to address any of the residents’ concerns.
There were further questions about local businesses and where would public realm fit in all of this. The presenters stated that as this was a small variable scheme it was difficult to say how this would fit in with public realm.
Concerns were raised about the scrap and car repair businesses that might have dangerous canisters on the premises and that these types of premises should not be under the arches.
Councillor Jamille Mohammed said he attended the work groups and thanked the community for taking part in the project.
The chair thanked those that participated and supported the project.