Bow Arts Trust has submitted plans to Bexley Council to transform the vacant Erith Town Hall in South East London into a “sustainable creative and community hub.” The proposal includes artist studios and two residential guardian flats, with an anticipated occupancy target of around 80% by the end of the second year.
Application Details and Proposed Use
The trust has lodged a Lawful Development Certificate for a Proposed Use or Development (reference 26/01549/LDCP) rather than a full planning application. It argues the new use falls under the hall’s current Class E categorisation, which covers commercial, business, and service activities.
According to the application, the ground floor would feature two flats occupied by residential property guardians. These guardians—who must also be artists—would have their own studio spaces and share existing toilet and kitchen facilities. Their occupation would be temporary, lasting up to five years, primarily to protect the building from vandalism, trespass, and deterioration during vacancy and transition periods.
Trust's Experience and Occupancy Expectations
Bow Arts Trust operates similar creative spaces across London, including the Lakeside Centre in Thamesmead, Catford Dek, and Royal Albert Wharf in Beckton. The trust also manages guardian schemes, notably through a partnership with housing association Peabody in Thamesmead.
Due to Erith’s less central location, the trust predicts a slower occupancy trajectory compared to its other sites. In planning documents, the trust stated: “We would expect Erith Town Hall to fill gradually over a period of at least two years, followed by a comparatively higher occupier turnover rate during the first five years while the site establishes itself, giving us an occupancy target by the end of year two of around 80%.”
Operational Impact and Community Coordination
The three-storey hall’s size is expected to generate more activity than typical Bow Arts buildings. The trust noted: “The scale of Erith Town Hall—and the ambition to accommodate a substantial community of artists, designers, and makers—will generate a considerably greater volume of viewings, inductions, lettings activity, operational oversight, and community coordination than a typical Bow Arts building.”
The application is available for public viewing on Bexley Council’s planning portal. The proposal aims to deliver long-term social, cultural, and economic value through affordable workspace for artists.
