Commercial Way

Commercial Way by WW+P is a new residential development in Peckham for Southwark Council, delivering 109 new homes for social rent and shared ownership, alongside significant improvements to the public realm on the North Peckham Estate.

Previous regeneration on the North Peckham Estate had left two vacant sites behind, divided by a busy road. Temporary buildings had been cleared from the sites, with the exception of two brick water towers, which had become local landmarks within an otherwise fragmented environment. The challenge was therefore to deliver new homes while also creating a sense of place, and to improve the public realm. Two gateway blocks rise to nine storeys, serving as visual markers and framing a new public space. Perimeter blocks to either side wrap around new landscaped courtyard gardens: these provide space for play and relaxation, and integrate the retained and repaired water towers, celebrating their function as familiar local landmarks. Commercial Way is the result of a collaborative design process with local residents and Southwark Council. The tenure-blind design provides 35 homes for shared ownership and 74 for social rent, and the unit mix responds to local needs with range of 1-4 bedroom homes, including eight wheelchair-adapted units. All homes comply with both the GLA London Housing Design Guide and Southwark’s comprehensive Design Standards. WW+P prioritised space and comfort for residents – with orientation carefully considered, all homes are light and airy with 85% either dual or triple aspect.