Residents of the Brandon Estate will be glad to hear that the estate’s shopping parade is set to receive a makeover, transforming the space into a lively community hub, writes Herbie Russell…
With funding from Southwark Council’s ‘Great Estates’ programme, the Tenants and Residents Association (TRA) is proposing the construction of a ‘parklet’ – an idea that emerged in San Francisco in 2005 as a way of improving underused urban spaces.
It would act as the street’s social centrepiece – somewhere local residents can meet with friends, sip a coffee or read a book.
Tom Lloyd, chair of the Brandon 1 Tenants’ and Residents’ Association said: “The Maddock Way shopping parade is at the heart of the Brandon estate, and the improvement of that area is essential to the regeneration of the whole estate.
“We really want to thank David Suen and his team for having the vision to work with us, and consult with residents, and work up some great ideas like public art, shipping container box-park ideas and maybe hosting an occasional market.
“For too long the space has been neglected by Southwark, but we feel that there is now the momentum to work in partnership with Southwark to redress this.”
On Monday March 21, a drop-in session was held at the Jack Hobbs Centre, with residents invited to discuss and consider different parklet prototypes.
A disused shipping container that already sits outside the Jack Hobbes centre could be used for a parklet, with windows cut out to create a light and airy space.
The TRA is also pushing to bring Maddock Way’s abandoned retail units back into use. They have contacted Southwark Property Services, who let the retail units, to find out why the one next to the pharmacy isn’t being used.
The council said that problems marketing the unit as well as Covid-19 complications have made it difficult to lease the shop.
The original design of the Brandon Estate envisioned a bustling retail parade acting as an integral part of the estate.
Originally, there was a post office, butchers, convenience store, pharmacy, doctors, greengrocers and pub available to residents.
Today, only the pub, convenience store, doctors and pharmacy are open while the other shops remain derelict shells.
The shopping parade once had a mural by Anthony Holloway that celebrated the Chartists’ Kennington connection which was torn down by maintenance workers.
The TRA also hopes to brighten the high street by installing some new artwork on the walls lining the street.