Borough, Bankside and Bermondsey

The Blue is a historic marketplace and high street in the heart of Bermondsey. It benefits from the investment coming to the nearby Spa Terminus, Biscuit Factory and Low Line regeneration projects.

We developed a community-led regeneration strategy that builds on The Blue’s identity as ‘the Larder of London.’ The area’s unique character includes:

• a legacy of historic food brands like Peek Freans and Pearce and Duffs 
• new food production businesses
• an authentic local market hosting new makers
• cultural events and a thriving social scene 

Funding

We worked on an application to the Mayor Of London’s Good Growth Fund with The Blue Business Improvement District, Community Opportunity and Big Local Works. 

We were successful and secured £2 million of capital funding. We're investing this in The Blue town centre’s infrastructure, with a focus on:

• improvements to the appearance of the marketplace
• Improving physical connections to The Blue
• Improving public access to community buildings
• coordinated shop make-overs

Who is involved

We set up a community steering group to oversee the project, which includes 

• The Blue Business Improvement District
• Community Opportunity 
• Big Local Works 
• Bede House
• Millwall for All
• Bermondsey Community Kitchen
• Rouel Road tenants and residents association
• The Arch Co
• Spa Terminus 

In June 2019, locally based Hayatsu and Assemble architects were appointed as designers. 

Download their plans to transform the market and the wider town centre.

Consultation

Over 700 local people responded to our consultation in 2019. We had strong support for most of the proposals put forward. The designs were changed to align with the priorities that emerged. 

A further consultation event on the revised design was organised on 15 February 2020, with a “mock up” of the clock tower.

Programme

Planning consent was granted in December 2020. You can view the application by searching planning register with application reference 20/AP/1874.

Warwick Landscaping carried out the works in phases between January 2021 and July 2021.   

The revival of The Blue has been widely praised and welcomed by the local community.