Furious Peckham residents say developer Peabody has turned their local park into a boarded-up wasteland – despite promising to revamp it.
Homeowners at 47 Pomeroy Street bought their properties believing Hatcham Gardens – a green space outside the property – would be re-landscaped for community use.
The park was supposed to be opened up in May 2020 and then was delayed until December 2022.
But six months later, residents are still waking up to an inaccessible, arid space.
Pomeroy resident Andre Silva, 37, said: “I think the main message is to realise that Peabody took the park away from the community to build a massive building, make loads of profit and doesn’t really bother about giving it back. That’s how it feels to us – that they don’t really care.”
Peabody got permission to build 65 homes on the site just off the Old Kent Road in 2018.
To facilitate construction, a large green space outside the development was blocked off and used by contractors.
In exchange, Peabody promised to contribute £64,000 towards the upgrade of the local play area – something it has done.
Although it wasn’t part of the planning permission, Peabody accepts that it also agreed “to carry out additional improvements to the rest of the park”.
Swanky marketing materials dangled the possibility of tree planting, a lawn and play features for kids – of stark contrast to the “eyesore” now facing residents.
Pomeroy resident June Mong said: “When we came to the sales office to look at the property, Peabody salespeople sold the whole property to us by promoting the redevelopment of Hatcham Gardens.
“If anyone wanted to revalue their property this would be a real dampener.”
She also said kids at the local Kender Primary School were missing out on an important green space.
Pomeroy resident and mum-of-two Kelly Childs, 46, said: “Well it’s a real inconvenience because obviously I’ve got two children…they like exercising, they like running and there’s just no outdoor space for them to go.”
Peabody said it was “disappointed” by the situation but that residents would not receive compensation and that it could not say when works would be completed.
A spokesperson for Peabody said: “We’re very disappointed that the new playground still hasn’t been built and we share the frustrations of residents.
“We have been working closely with Lewisham Council’s parks team to deliver the park improvements, but regrettably the project was initially delayed by Covid. We then faced various procurement problems that were out of our control, including an unexpected lack of suitable contractors responding to our tender.
“We have since been unable to find a landscaping company that is willing to quote for the work. However, we’re seeking quotes from alternative contractors and expect this to take another three months.
“While this does unfortunately mean a further delay, we are committed to providing improvements to the park following recent engagement with children and families.”
A Lewisham Council spokesperson said: “We share residents’ frustrations with the delay in reopening the park and have been liaising with Peabody to ensure the works are carried out as quickly as possible, so that residents can enjoy the improved park.”
