Campaigners have launched a fight to save SET Social, a 'lifeline' Peckham venue offering free space for dozens of community groups, after developers proposed redeveloping the site into flats. The venue, located on Nigel Road off Rye Lane, faces a mixed-use development with shared living accommodation proposed by GRID Architects and The Cherwell Group.
Consultation sparks campaign to save SET Social
While a formal planning application is not expected until later this year, The Cherwell Group conducted a public consultation in July, which prompted the formation of the campaign. Connall Monaghan, 31, one of the organisers, said the campaign began after the consultation, bringing together 14 groups that use the space.
Monaghan, who helped organise the garden for SET Social, said: "It started off the backs of the consultation that took place in July for SET social, I helped organise the garden for SET social, I spoke to a lot of the organisations that run groups within SET social, so 14 (groups)of us got together and agreed we would run a campaign born out of the realisation that if SET closed then we would lose the space that we have."
'SET Social is the foundation of our resilience'
The campaigners are concerned about the proposed two-year closure during redevelopment, fearing many groups would dissolve in that time. Monaghan added: "We are willing to fight to keep the space. We wouldn't be happy with closure for the two years on the basis that many of the groups would dissolve in that time, because there are not enough free spaces in Peckham as it stands for groups and parties to meet."
He also expressed doubts about the developer's commitment to a future community space, saying: "We have concerns about whether a community space would even operate given the developer's history. We spoke to Cherwell at the consultation, and they told us that we needed to be resilient, but we feel that resiliency in the community comes from infrastructure, and SET Social is the foundation of our resilience, and this campaign is our attempt to express our quality to fight the protected communities that we built."
Users fear loss of unique social space
Rory Allen, 25, a member for the past year, said the venue has been crucial for his social life. He noted that during a two-month closure when the space was being bought, they couldn't find anywhere as welcoming. He said: "It would have a really big impact. We already had a two-month closure when the space was being bought. We met in different places, but we couldn't find anywhere as welcoming or as easy to drop in and out of. A lot of the spaces we tried feel very formal."
Allen added: "I think if it closed, it probably wouldn't affect the friendships of the people already there currently, but it would have a big impact on people who would happen upon it like I did, so even though we might get a space after the closure, it would impact it until the point where there wouldn't be much left at the end. It would definitely be displaced (the groups within SET Social); there would be aspects of it that would fail to survive."
Ellie Redpath, 26, described the venue as a lifeline for finding friends and creative opportunities in London. She said: "It's honestly a lifeline in terms of finding new friends in London and for creative opportunities. It's a really unique place to meet people through creative activity. It's affordable as well. Everything else I see is about £30 a session, but you don't even need to buy anything from SET. It's a bit like a public living room, and there is nothing else like this in London, which just makes me so upset that we might be facing closure."
Redpath also criticised the proposed community space, saying: "The space they have put aside for a community just looks like a yoga studio. There doesn't seem to be any cafe space or social space."
Campaign seeks asset of community value status
The campaign plans to apply to Southwark Council for SET Social to be deemed an asset of community value, which would recognise its contribution to social wellbeing and give the community a six-month grace period to raise funds if the site is sold. While a formal application has not been submitted, another consultation is expected in the coming months, but no date for closure has been set. The campaign awaits the formal application and plans to object to the redevelopment proposals. The Cherwell Group, GRID Architects and SET Social were all contacted for comment.
