Southwark (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Campaigners will march in Peckham, Southwark, on March 1, protesting the UK government’s handling of the housing crisis and action on affordable homes.
SHAPE (Southwark Housing and Planning Emergency), a coalition of 14 community organizations that banded together last year to protest “overdevelopment” in Southwark, is spearheading the march and the start of a nationwide campaign.
Why Are Peckham campaigners protesting Berkeley homes’ redevelopment plans?
The SHAPE conducted a march through Peckham, Southwark, in February to express opposition to Berkeley Homes’ contentious redevelopment of the Aylesham Centre, a Rye Lane shopping center from the 1980s.
Berkeley reduced the percentage of units set at affordable rent from 35% to 12% in December of last year.
This is in spite of Southwark Council’s planning regulations, which mandate that new construction must include at least 35% of affordable-rent homes, with a 50% target in mind. However, both requirements are contingent upon the outcome of viability studies conducted by the council and the developer.
SHAPE has now broadened its scope and is advocating for changes to national housing laws and the UK’s “over reliance” on private developers.
Beginning from Peckham Square at 1:00 pm, the march will proceed via Camberwell, Walworth, Elephant & Castle, and Borough Triangle before coming to an end.
What are the main demands of the SHAPE coalition?
According to the coalition, all new private developments must have at least 50% affordable housing, and all council-owned land must include 100% affordable housing.
The goal of this demand is to guarantee that a sizable percentage of newly constructed homes will be available to individuals who require it.
When it comes to housing developments, SHAPE supports discussions with locals rather than what they refer to as “fake consultations.” They stress how crucial it is to include the community in decisions that impact their quality of life.
The coalition aims to address Southwark’s overdevelopment, which they perceive as undermining community unity and putting profit ahead of the needs of locals.
In order to ensure that vulnerable populations’ housing requirements are fulfilled and that they are not relocated as a result of growing costs or development pressures, SHAPE highlights the necessity of policies that explicitly support these communities.
The coalition calls for developers to be held more accountable, especially with relation to their pledges to build affordable housing and participate in the community.
The SHAPE collaboration seeks to raise awareness of these important concerns and encourage significant changes in housing policy at the municipal and federal levels by enlisting public support through demonstrations and advocacy.