Property developers planning to build 11 luxury apartments and up to eight retail units near Peckham’s Bussey Building and Rye Wax venues have now completely revised their plans for the area.

Speaking to The Peckham Peculiar, Nick Mansour, co-founder of Frame Property who were planning to carry out the works, said that the company is now planning to take a “light-touch, long-term approach” to repairing the building while ensuring a healthy relationship with local businesses.

“We have taken time over the past fortnight to evaluate our options for the future use of 133 Rye Lane,” said Mansour. “Over this period we have had some excellent, open conversations with various local business owners, and have reviewed and considered the comments received from the general public both online and in the public meeting at the CLF on the 24th.

“Our intention has never been to push against the interests of the local community. Indeed we would love to work alongside it, and hopefully help it to develop positively over the coming years.

“As such, and following careful consideration, we have today instructed Southwark Council that we wish to withdraw the current planning application.

“In terms of our future plans, we have been working very hard to assess the feasibility of alternative uses to the residential scheme which we had originally proposed. Whilst we still very much feel that residential uses in town centres help to create mixed, healthy and sustainable communities, we believe that there is a financially viable and positive alternative in this case. “Therefore over the coming weeks, in response to the feedback which we’ve had and recognising Peckham’s growing and diverse business community, we will be developing plans for an entirely non-residential scheme.

“More than ever now, we think 133 Rye Lane is a fantastic site with a huge amount of potential, and are very excited about this new approach. We’re keen to keep our neighbours and other local stakeholders involved in the design process, and will be consulting on our revised proposals as these develop.”