The historic Bussey Building is named after cricket bat manufacturer George Bussey, who built it as a sporting goods factory in 1887. The factory closed in the late-1940s, but by the early 2000s the building began its renaissance as informal studios for artists, designers, makers and small businesses, attracted there by low rents and ample space. The internal layout has particularly lent itself to use by creative start-ups, and promoting the continuance of this usage will enable original dividing walls to be retained.

Externally, our proposal strips back the façades to remove clutter, including redundant services. The retention of assets of character, along with improved circulation and servicing, would provide a secure, safe, sustainable and inspiring contemporary environment for creative start-ups and small businesses.

By keeping light industrial uses towards the centre of the site, there is the opportunity to use existing retail units on Rye Lane as a shop-front for goods made on the site. Enhancements to heritage building elevations along the high street would also serve to promote and strengthen local businesses.

Only recently included in the Conservation Area, the fact that the site is untested in planning would necessitate a sensitive heritage appraisal. But our approach goes further, contextualising the Conservation Area Appraisal within a much broader view of the planning and policy background. This view takes in the historical development and urban grain of the local neighbourhood, the site’s archaeological history, specific site guidance such as that in the Peckham and Nunhead Action Plan (which seeks to enhance the burgeoning mix of arts, cultural, leisure, retail, entertainment and business uses here), and the political context and aspirations surrounding the site, which may not always be consistent.

Ultimately, our masterplan celebrates locality by enhancing the setting of important heritage assets and providing new buildings that reflect the character of Copeland Park, promoting Peckham’s renaissance as south London’s creative capital.

By removing blockages to the existing Rye Lane shopping arcade, our masterplan creates a direct link from the high street to the heart of Copeland Park. Additional retail frontage – as desired by the Local Area Action Plan – is achieved through extending the high street condition to the railway arches. New buildings would form and complete the internal courtyard-like spaces already existing on the site, with building façades opening out onto these shared amenity spaces to generate a vibrant atmosphere through the day and into the evening.

On the Bussey Building, lightweight rooftop interventions that are detailed with reversibility in mind, provide additional space for leisure usage. Meanwhile, low-level infill buildings with mezzanine accommodation supply the opportunity for affordable workspace and light industry such as printers, book-binders and fabric designers. Products can then find their marketplace in the existing retail units on Rye Lane.