Thriving South London nightspot at risk as developers flock to trendy SE15.

A cluster of venues on Peckham’s Rye Lane face an uncertain future after discovering that an overlooking building has been earmarked for redevelopment.

The owners of Bussey Building, The CLF Art Cafe and Rye Wax fear that a new scheme to create 11 luxury apartments and up to eight retail units at 133 Rye Lane – including adding two storeys to the building – will halt Peckham’s creative rise “dead in its tracks”.

The introduction of residential units will likely prohibit the use of the alley and courtyard in front of Bussey Building and Rye Wax as an entrance and smoking area during clubnights, says The CLF Art Cafe, calling the development “a sure sign of the on-set of full blown gentrification.”

Tom Stiedl of Rye Wax, the basement record shop and venue which hosts nights by Keysound, Boxed and Endless, is urging clubbers and locals to object to the planning application.

“This development threatens everyone in the Copeland Park site, but particularly the music venues as the flats will be overlooking the outside areas used for night trade, and we all know what’s going to happen there,” he told FACT. “It’s totally ridiculous, the building couldn’t be worse positioned for becoming residential. On top of that the whole site will face access issues that will threaten businesses and undermine what everyone has been working towards in the past couple of years. Literally hundreds of jobs in the area could be at risk.

“We need all the help we can get and we’re limited on time as notices were not posted to the affected businesses, meaning we are already nearing the end of our complaints window. If you live in the area or just care about London’s musical and cultural landscape not being whitewashed, please add yourself to the objections and be as detailed as possible about your feelings.”

You can have your say on the proposals by filling in a simple form on Southwark Council’s website before November 18.

Bussey Building, The CLF Art Cafe and Rye Waxe are part of the sprawling Copeland Industrial Park, a Victorian building that was saved from demolition in 2007 following a campaign spearhead by CLF and community group Peckham Vision.

The news comes just days after Southwark Council approved plans to redevelop the nearby multi-storey car park home to arts organisation Bold Tendencies and rooftop bar Frank’s.

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