Housing prices down 10%

By Dominique Brady

House prices have plummeted nearly ten per cent in Lewisham and Southwark, it emerged this week.

Housing estate grows their own

By Ceiri O’Driscoll

Peckham-grown produce could soon be hitting shelves as a local housing estate is turning unused grassland into an orchard, thanks to a coalition of groups campaigning for a healthier Southwark.

Mayor neglects housing, say critics

By Ali Nobil Ahmad

A statement on the credit crunch by Sir Steve Bullock, the mayor of Lewisham, has been condemned for failing to properly address housing issues by housing groups and opposition councillors this week.

Tango for cash over Brockley ballroom

By Paul Campbell

Ambitious plans to save a historic ballroom have been rocked this week after the owner slapped a £10 million price tag on the property.

A consortium of interested buyers, who formed a group called ‘Let’s Buy The Rivoli Ballroom’ on social-networking site Facebook, hoped to make “a reasonable offer that is affordable to us,” for the Brockley property.

However the plan has taken a blow after Bill Mannix – who is selling up due to ill health – revealed his astronomical asking price.

Southwark ‘jewels’ up for sale

By Ali Nobil Ahmad

Criticism of Southwark Council’s plans to sell off historic buildings and move its offices to Tooley Street confronted a top official at a community council meeting in Peckham. 

Local residents denounced the council’s plans to sell some listed buildings – “jewels of the borough” – to the private sector. 

Chief Executive Annie Shephard unexpectedly came under siege when she was asked to take questions from members of the public after a brief welcome address on behalf of the council. The gathering had been set up as a ‘Pride of Place’ event.