Issue 1810 Est: 1987
50p
October 15 2026
southwarknews.co.uk
STREET MARKETS AND HIPSTERS Are South London’s beloved markets the latest victim of gentrification? IN DEPTH FEATURE SEE PAGES 10-12
WRAP STAR! EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:
See pages 4-5
See page 4
EXCLUSIVE
MP CAMPAIGNS AGAINST HER OWN See GOVERNMENT?page 7
Ed Sheeran and other stars banned from restaurant selling ‘universal credit sharwarmas’ for 5p in bid to feed hungry
2 NEWS Contents NEWS Pages 2-11 OPINION Page 14-15 ARTS Page 16 EVENTS Page 17 CLASSIFIED Page 21 PUBLIC NOTICES
‘NIGHTMARE’ WEEK FOR BERKELEY HOMES The proposed entrance on Rye Lane to Berkeley Homes’ planned redevelopment
Plans for the Aylesham Centre and Bermondsey Place have both been rejected
EXCLUSIVE By Alex Orr DEVELOPER BERKELEY Homes has suffered another “nightmare” blow after the High Court refused its request for a judicial review of its plans for the Aylesham Centre.
The current entrance to the Aylesham Centre on Rye Lane
It comes the same day that Berkeley’s plan to reduce affordable housing at Bermondsey Place from 40% to 12% was unanimously rejected by Southwark Council, despite SPORT planing officers recommending the proposal for approval. Pages 29-32 The developer confirmed in May that it would appeal the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to throw out their plans for the Aylesham Centre, which would have seen the demolition of the old 1980s shopping centre on Rye Lane in Peckham and construction of 867 new homes across 13 tower blocks. The proposals initially included a 35% affordable housing provision but came in for Contact us heavy criticism after Berkeley dropped its if you have a affordable offering to just 12%. story on editor@ Described by critics as “gentrification on southwarknews.co.uk steroids”, it would have been Peckham’s largest redevelopment in a decade and changed its skyline forever. It was rejected by the Planning Inspectorate on the basis that the benefits of the development did “not outweigh the harm to the relevant designated heritage assets We are a London important to the area”. Living Wage employer After Berkeley announced it would appeal the decision, Southwark Council declared it DO YOU HAVE A STORY would join the judicial review as an “interested for our news team? party” in August, allowing it to give evidence Call 0207 231 5258 against the plans if the High Court had granted You can WhatsApp Berkeley’s request.
Pages 23-27
Instead, Deputy Council Leader Victor Chamberlain “welcomed” the High Court’s decision this week. He said: “We recognise that market conditions are extremely challenging for developers, but the housing crisis facing our residents is equally acute. “Berkeley Homes’ proposal for the Aylesham Centre includes a low percentage of affordable housing and does not provide sufficient benefits for the local community.” The Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Strategic Planning and Wellbeing added: “We are a council that listens and that residents can shape. We recognise that Peckham needs new homes and development, and that local people understand this too. “But communities must be brought along on that journey, with their concerns heard and developments shaped around their needs. “We have listened carefully to the concerns residents have raised and concluded that the benefits of this particular proposal do not outweigh the harm it would cause to the character and appearance of Peckham.” Cllr Chamberlain committed the council to working “constructively” with both developers and the local community to “deliver the homes Peckham needs” while “respecting what makes the area special”. Meanwhile, responding to the High Court’s decision, Executive Chair of the Berkeley
us on 07494 070 863.
MILLWALL EXCULSIVE
Issue 1809 Est: 1988
50p
October 8 2026
southwarknews.co.uk
See page 3
Editor: Kevin Quinn Reporter: Evie Reporters: EvieFlynn Flynn; Alex Orr Sports Editor: John Kelly Sports reporter: Will Scott Arts Correspondent: Michael Holland Digital Transformation Editor: Katherine Johnston Media Partnerships: Anthony Phillips Advertising: Clarry Frewin, Mandy Stong Design: Dan Martin, Ann Gravesen Finance: Em Zeki - Tel: 0779 883 3758 em@cm-media.co.uk Subscriptions/Announcements: Katie Boyd Managing & Commercial Director: Chris Mullany Managing & Editorial Director: Kevin Quinn Published weekly on a Thursday at: Community Matters Media Ltd 1 Bermondsey Square, London SE1 3UN. News and Sport: 020 7231 5258 Advertising: 020 7232 1639 News: news@southwarknews.co.uk Advertising: hello@cm-media.co.uk Printed by Iliffe Print. Tel: 01223 656500 www.iliffeprint.co.uk
CUE THE MUSIC Every weekend Elephant pool lounge swaps cue balls for salsa beats
DYKES:
I’M LOVING MY LIFE AT MILLWALL
THE LIGHTNING STRIKE FAMILY BACK HOME
See page 5
YET AGAIN!
‘We’re talking seconds’: Borough Commander on See page 4 the terrifying reality of battery fires EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: See page 4
decision to reject Berkeley’s new plan to cut affordable housing from 40% to 12% at Bermondsey Place, the developer’s Head of Development, Joe Warde-Aldam, said: “It’s been nearly a decade since the original application was submitted in 2017 and the world has significantly changed, bill costs have risen by 50 per cent while sales values have fallen. “Housing delivery in London has ground to a halt and the Old Kent Road is no different. Exacerbated by the delay to the Bakerloo Line extension, less than 50 per cent of consented sites have commenced construction and the approved scheme is not deliverable.” Berkeley said it was “disappointed” the council’s planning committee overruled the recommendation from planning officers to approve the new proposals. The company’s Managing Director, Justin Tibaldi, said the decision failed “to recognise that the council is charging this project £30 million through its Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106 requirements, which is funding that could otherwise be used to increase the number of affordable homes.” But Green councillor Kath Whittam, Chair of the Planning Committee, pointed out: “It seems to me that if it’s going to take them 16 years to sell enough houses to give us even the 12 per cent, they’re selling the wrong thing.”
The Southwark News is proud to be the only independent, paid for newspaper in London
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‘TIME BOMB’
Group Rob Perrins said: “This 10-year planning nightmare demonstrates the gulf between positive planning policies and what actually happens when you try to build homes in London. “All the policies support housing, but the decisions block it time and time again.” “In Peckham the sole reason for refusal is ‘heritage harm’, which outweighs all the benefits of regenerating this worn-out site and building more than 800 much needed homes,” he pointed out. “Yet Historic England raised no objection to the scheme and will be deeply concerned that heritage is being used as a blocker. The outcome is no new investment, no jobs, no homes. “This is not an isolated case. We’re increasingly relying on call-ins and appeals to get through the planning process, which is hugely costly and slow.” Perrins said these decisions had created “extreme uncertainty” and were “undermining the Government’s housing agenda”. He added: “Housing delivery in London is at a record low. At a time when we should be fighting to attract investment and build more homes, we’re fighting it off. “The result is fewer homes, less growth and a worsening housing crisis.” Likewise, in response to Southwark Council’s
AFFORDABLE HOMES COULD GO FROM 35% TO 12% IN PLAN See page 9
Southwark News started life as the Bermondsey News in 1987, as an A-4 photocopied sheet of paper and rapidly grew to cover the entire borough and the surrounding area. As the borough grew, so did the newspaper. It is owned and run by Chris Mullany and Kevin Quinn. Former reporters for Southwark News, they bought the title in 2002, after the founder Dave Clark died suddenly from cancer four years earlier. A dedicated team of staff work tirelessly to cover as much of what is going on as possible and strive to ensure that a community-led, independent newspaper can survive and excel in a market dominated by national and multinational media groups.
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NEWS 3 © Jonny Guardiani
By Evie Flynn
NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM: The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich will celebrate Diwali with a free festival on Saturday 7 November. All Together Now will commemorate the Hindu Festival of Lights, with a programme of live performances and workshops. The event will showcase South Asian artists, performers, makers and storytellers, curated by Mehala Ford founder of COMMONGROUND& and Friday Sari Project. A new addition this year is the Diwali Bazaar, a marketplace of independent traders selling jewellery, clothing, prints and accessories. The bazaar will feature products from South Asian businesses and local businesses in Greenwich. Now in its fourth year, Diwali at the National Maritime Museum encourages family and friends to gather, sharing food, exchanging stories and celebrating the triumph of light over darkness. The museum itself will also be transformed with artistic installations and decorations, including sustainable textile works created using recycled saris. Date: Saturday 7 November Time: 10am - 5pm Location: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich Tickets: Free, no ticket required.
DISHOOM CELEBRATION, BOROUGH: A new Dishoom restaurant in Borough will celebrate its opening with a special Diwali gathering this October. Dishoom Borough is set to open in the Grade II-listed Hop Exchange, bringing the restaurant’s take on Bombay’s food, culture and history to the area. The two-floor café will be inspired by Bombay’s historic markets, including Crawford Market, and will serve an all-day menu alongside drinks and its own dishes created exclusively for Borough. The restaurant’s opening story is set during Diwali in Bombay in 1953, drawing on the festival’s traditions and the city’s Parsi theatre heritage. The Diwali gathering will form part of the celebrations around the new restaurant’s arrival.
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Diwali, National Maritime
Where to celebrate Diwali
Holiday Home Ownership at Harts Holiday Park
Date: Now open with 50 per cent off all food until 20 October Location: The Hop Exchange, 11–13 Park Street / Southwark Street, SE1 9AB dishoom.com/borough
Enjoy a new leisure lifestyle with holiday home ownership at Harts Holiday Park with all the comforts of home and handy park facilities on your doorstep! Key features of Harts • Just 200 metres from the beach
BLACKHEATH HALLS DINNER AND DANCE: Celebrate Diwali at Blackheath Halls with an evening of dancing and food on Sunday 18 October. Guests can experience the energy of Bharatanatyam, one of India’s oldest and most popular classical dance forms. Natyasri Dance Company will perform, while Cohesion Plus will get guests up and dancing themselves. Alongside a series of performances, enjoy a meal provided by Nepali and Northern Indian local restaurant Everest Inn. You can book an entire table for 10 people or individual seats. Date: Sunday 18 October Time: 6pm Location: Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Rd, Blackheath, SE3 9RQ Tickets: £70, book at blackheathhalls.com
• Large indoor pool and children’s play pool • Fantastic entertainment venue
Blackheath Halls
• Arcade
DIWALI CREATIVE SESSION AT ASHBURTON PARK: Families can celebrate Diwali with a creative nature-themed workshop at Ashburton Park this autumn. The session will invite visitors to paint colourful pine cones foraged from the park and help create a communal nature mandala. The event will have a quieter soft start from 11am to 11.30am for families with SEN. The whole session will be SEN-inclusive, with a sensory corner, quiet space and ear defenders available. The workshop will be led by textile artist and facilitator Kavitha Soundararajan, founder of London-based creative practice isifiso.
Kavitha has 30 years of experience making and uses mindful art, embroidery and hand stitching to support selfexpression, wellbeing and community connection. The session is designed to be accessible to beginners, neurodivergent participants and those who have never tried craft before. Date: Sunday 1 November Time: 11:30am – 1pm (softer start from 11am) Location: Ashburton Hall, Lower Addiscombe Rd, Croydon CR0 6RX Tickets: Free, book at namaste. community/events/diwali-atashburton-park
• Owner’s only events
3
• Welcoming owner community • Family bar with Sky TV • Play park • Pet friendly • Free Wi-Fi in the club area • Restaurant and takeaway
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