Neighours of a new tower block on the site of a 110-yea-old community centre say they will be overshadowed by the nine-storey building.
Southwark’s council will decide on Wednesday March 9 whether to approve demolishing Bradfield Youth Club on Commercial Way, Peckham and replacing it with four blocks.
The plans, by the club in partnership with developer Guildmore, will see the current building replaced by a larger centre wit a sports hall, recording studio, dance studio, offices for staff, and chill out spaces for young people.
Council officers have recommended approval.
Guildmore say the new facilities will secure the club’s future by ensuring that any charitable donations are no longer used to repair the ageing building – and will enable the club to run
sustainably with minimal external support.
The project also has 48 new flats, 35% of them affordable, most socially rented family-sized homes, which Southwark needs.
The building will also be sustainable, with no gas boilers and green and blue roofs to retain water and improve biodiversity.
The club provides dozens of free breakfasts and lunches, for strugging pupils.
Guildmore said in a statement: “Too many youth clubs have closed over recent years, this is the opportunity to protect the future of this facility to ensure it can serve the young people of Peckham for another 100 years. Bradfield Youth Club and Guildmore hope that Southwark Council’s Planning Committee agrees with the advice of Council officers to facilitate this future.”
But one member of staff at the neighbouring Ann Bernadt Nursery said: “The development is far too high in relation to the surrounding buildings and that it will completely block light from the nursery and our garden.
“My main concerns are around the demolition and construction process and the impact that this is likely to have on the children in our nursery, a large proportion of which have Special Educational Needs.
“Demolition of existing buildings must not happen when children are at the nursery – this will be a loud and dirty process which will be disturbing and potentially harmful for children and adults in the nursery. What plans have been made to ensure that this work can be done during the school holidays?