Southwark Housing Campaign demand new homes

Guest blog from Jerry Flynn from 35% campaign & SHAPE.

South London Campaigners march for an end to overdevelopment and demand new council housing

Image submitted by SHAPE

Over 600 local people and campaigners from across Southwark and beyond demonstrated for new council housing and against the overdevelopment of the borough on Saturday, 1 March. The demonstration started in Peckham Square at 1pm and was followed by a march to the Borough Triangle, Elephant and Castle.

The march was organised by SHAPE (Southwark Housing And Planning Emergency) – an umbrella group of housing campaigns and activists from across Southwark. SHAPE Spokesperson Siobhan McCarthy said,

‘It was amazing to see so many people and groups show up to the SHAPE demo.  We had great speakers and lively crowds at both ends.  Along the march it was large and noisy, with a carnival-like feel. It was quite the show, with lots of colour, music, families, and older people alike.  You could sense a positive charge from the crowd to unite together, call out the current system which is clearly not working, and ask for change.  We will keep this charge and call for change going with the SHAPE coalition.'

Next protest - Southwark Council Offices Wednesday 19 March, 6pm

SHAPE’s next protest will be outside Southwark Council’s Offices. They will be lobbying councillors to come out in opposition to two big developments, the Aylesham, Peckham and the Borough Triangle, Elephant and Castle, which are not providing enough affordable and social rent housing.

SHAPE is also supporting a lobby of parliament called by Homes for All at 11am on Wednesday 26 March.

SHAPE’s demands

SHAPE’s main demands are an end to overdevelopment and more council housing – 50% for developments on private land and 100% on council land.  It also wants an end to estate demolition and the sale of council homes and an end to the displacement of local traders for developments of unaffordable housing.

SHAPE (Southwark Housing And Planning Emergency)  are an umbrella group of housing campaigns and activists from across Southwark. 

SHAPE is supported by Southwark Defend Council Housing, Aylesham Community Action, Save Borough Triangle, Peckham Vision, Latin Elephant, Up the Elephant, 35% Campaign, Yes to Fair Redevelopment, Southwark Notes , Fight for Aylesbury, PlushSE16 No Price on Culture, Glengall Wharf Garden, Southwark TUC, Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth and Southwark Group of Tenants Organisation.