The wider world: Bermondsey, Greenwich, Canada Water and beyond...
Part of a series of articles about South East London's other delights...
In a way, we will be very sorry when the Peninsula is fully developed. It's not that we don't like what's planned or appreciate what's been achieved already, but from the Yacht Club and the amazing wildlife centre to the Anthony Gormley statue in search of some viewers and the marooned Pilot Inn, it's a truly unique place. Part ghostly wasteland, part Vegas-upon-Thames, part Scandanavian model for 21st Century living. We could devote a whole blog to the area's eccentricities, except there'd be no residents there to read it.
One tube-stop from Canary Wharf, change to the Peninsula is inevitable.
Five billion pounds are being spent to create 10,000 homes, 150 shops and restaurants and 48 acres of green space. Office space too - with TfL recently announcing that they will be anchor tenants, to hasten the area's regeneration. The new TfL offices [pictured] will be open next year.
Why is it important?
Try getting a job in South East London at the moment. There aren't any.
Bermondsey Square
Bermondsey Square is a little island of something interesting in a sea of not very much. By this summer, the regeneration work it's currently undergoing, centring around a new market square, should be complete. Developers Igloo summarise it as follows:
"A mixed-use property development scheme comprising 76 apartments, 35,000 sq ft of offices which will be multi-let to a number of creative occupiers, a 79-bed boutique hotel to be operated by Bespoke Hotels and a 55-seat community cinema, a Sainsbury’s local store and other adjacent retail units all set around a new landscaped square which will continue to host the long-established Bermondsey Antiques Market as well a number of other events such as Farmers Markets and fashion markets. The scheme is due for completion in July 2008, with the hotel set to open later in September 2008."
Why is it important?
Somewhere new to potter around, only a few minutes from London Bridge station.
Canada Water
Canada Water doesn't work. An incoherent residential area tacked on to a dying retail park (although no-doubt someone will now pop up to tell us that Surrey Quays shopping centre is actually home to a thriving and charming collection of independent retailers from Puerto Rico or the Cook Islands or something).
So they are starting again.
After seven years of consultation, construction starts in a couple of months on a new masterplan that, if it doesn't exactly excite, should represent an improvement.
Why is it important?
Only a short hop away on the new East London Line service.
Ballet School for Southwark
The Central School of Ballet is moving south from its current home in Clerkenwell to a new home in Southwark, to a purpose built centre and halls of residence on a currently derelict site.
The development is awaiting planning consent, but could be ready by 2010 if approved.
Why is it important?
Together with Laban, would make South East London the home of London dance.
