Table of Contents
Plans to convert a five-storey listed Victorian warehouse in Plaistow into a community arts space complete with a café have been recommended for approval.
The 19th century building on Stock Street was previously used as a storage space by Curwen Primary School and Newham Council’s heritage service, but has been unoccupied since 2017.
Arts organisation Create London is now looking to transform the space into a community arts venue that would consist of affordable studios, offices, a venue hire space and a front yard area that would be split across several storeys.
As the building is locally listed, Create London plan to carry out restoration works to the main building which includes retaining brickwork and the repainting of the entrance door.
Create London is also planning a single storey side extension that would include a café canopy.
According to its website, Create London intend to make the space a "thriving arts hub" with an emphasis on creativity, culture and community wellbeing.
Create London says Newham Council has invested over £1 million in the project through successful Levelling Up Fund bids, while the arts organisation itself plans to raise a further £1.3 million to cover part of the restoration costs through donations and grants.
Council planning officers have stated that the regard the the proposal as "an innovative and viable use of a locally listed building" through the preservation and enhancement of the building.
During the public consultation phase, the plans received a response from a resident who was strongly in support of the plans as they said it will help to regenerate an old building and will bring more life into the neighbourhood.
Director of Create London, Marie Bak Mortensen, said: “We are delighted to be working with Newham Council to transform this important community asset and to continue our strategic objectives of providing affordable studios and beautifully designed spaces in areas of low cultural provision and arts participation.
“Our ambition is to create an exemplary project that exceeds contemporary and future decarbonisation requirements while extending ambitious environmental and social sustainability into our public programmes’ content to support a circular economy model.”
Planning officers have recommended that Newham Council’s local development committee approve the plans at its meeting next week (25 November 2024).
