Protestors have slammed Southwark Council’s “ludicrous” decision to demolish a hostel for homeless people in Peckham Rye.
Southwark Council says the Copeland Road hostel, closed in 2020, is unfit for habitation making demolition “the safest option and best use of public money”.
But Tanya Murat from Southwark Defend Council Housing (Southwark DCH), which led the protest on Saturday, October 22, said: “This is a ludicrous policy decision by the Council. Instead of collecting rent and housing local people, it prefers to pay out for security services.”
The hostel is part of NSP75, a site including the Peckham bus garage and the Aylesham Centre, which is earmarked for redevelopment.
While there are plans to build a replacement garage and mixed-use development where the shopping centre now stands, there is no provision for a new hostel.
Southwark DCH also complain that rather than housing the homeless, money is being squandered on 24/7 security and a dog guarding the premises.
Cllr Darren Merrill, cabinet member for council homes and homelessness, said: “The hostel has been closed since 2020 due to the condition of the building, which made it unsuitable for families to be housed in.
“Vacant buildings are also expensive for us to keep secure and often become targets for anti-social behaviour. In this case, demolition is the safest option and best use of public money.”
Homelessness is rising. Between April and June 2022, 129 people were recorded as having slept rough in Southwark. This was up by eighteen compared to January to March, and by thirteen compared to the same time last year.
Will McMahon from Action on Empty Homes said: “With 100,000 homeless families in insecure and often overcrowded Temporary Accommodation and 1.2million on the social housing waiting list our housing crisis isn’t going to be solved by current housing policy.
“We need all empty homes to be brought back into use whether they are on council estates or second homes and short-lets across the country, or new properties built for investors to buy to leave empty.”
Cllr Merrill noted that the council had introduced a ‘Good homes standard for temporary accommodation’ in 2021.
The policy improves tenure security for those in temporary accommodation and seeks to secure essentials for tenants like cookers and fridges.
He added: “We remain focused on tackling and preventing homelessness as well as building more housing for those in need; we met our target of starting construction or building 2,500 new council homes by May 2022, and have plans to start 1,000 more by 2026.”