Tom Hillman•8 months ago 1. What this proposal is aboutWe want to improve the space around Brandon Library and the small parade on Maddock Way.Three things guide this proposal:
Southwark Council is already investing in the library and youth centre.
BrandonTRA has spent years shaping ideas for Maddock Way.
Other cities have shown that simple, low cost changes can make places feel safer and more welcoming.
The estate is already starting to change. The new library, the youth centre works and the efforts of residents all point forward. This proposal helps that change become visible in the centre of everyday life. Maddock Way should feel like a small daytime hub, not just a cut through.A small public square and a modern making space inside the library can give everyone, especially young people, a clear sign that the estate has a future and that they belong in it.2. What the area is like todayMaddock Way sits right in the middle of the estate, linking homes, shops, the surgery, the pub, the chemist and the library.Years ago the parade had many everyday shops. As those closed, fewer people came here to spend time. The space became somewhere people passed through instead of somewhere to stop.The paving is worn. Some buildings look tired. The links between the library, youth centre and shops are unclear. This makes the area feel messy and uncared for, even though residents have tried for years to improve it.Many people also remember past problems with crime and antisocial behaviour. Parents do not always bring children here. Older residents do not often sit here. Teenagers have no clear positive place to be.But things are shifting. The new library shows what is possible. The youth centre is being renewed. Residents have suggested planting, seating and small parklets. The area is ready for the next step.Now the main public space needs to match the direction of travel and give people proof that change is happening.3. What residents have asked forResidents, through BrandonTRA, have asked for:
better paving and drainage,
a safer pedestrian space,
planting and seating,
support for small stalls or markets,
clean and welcoming entrances to the library and youth centre,
and places for art or colour.
These requests come from a shared hope: people want an estate that feels modern and confident, where young people feel proud of where they live.This proposal gives a focused first step. It fits the timing of the library works and delivers what residents have asked for in a clear, practical way.4. What we are proposingWe want Southwark Council to create three linked pieces:Brandon Square outside the library,a small Urban Workshop inside the library,and Saturday activity called Brandon Square Sessions.Together these pieces turn ongoing improvements into something people can see, use and trust. They also line up with the council’s current library investment and youth service work, so they are a natural next phase.4.1 Brandon Square: a small, cared for public spaceBrandon Square would be the space outside the library and youth centre.It is not meant to be fancy. It is meant to show that the estate is moving forward and is worth long term care. A clean, aesthetically pleasing, community square tells young people and long-term residents that the area has a future and they are part of it.The council would:
renew paving and drainage, and add a simple underground service route. Including this route now, while repaving is already planned, keeps costs low and avoids bigger works later. It lets the square support stalls, lighting or future uses without disruption.
clean and repair walls, pillars and soffits,
use the same materials as the new library so everything looks like one cared for place,
remove broken and unused items,
add seating and planters on anchor points so they can be moved or replaced easily,
install a concrete table tennis table and a chess table, also on anchor points,
add warm, modern outdoor lighting like LED festoon lines that make winter afternoons feel safe and inviting,
create a few flat bays sized for market stalls,
and add simple mounting rails on walls so banners, murals or small canopies can be changed over time.
Climate resilience for extreme heat and heavy rain
The square would use materials and planting that cope with hotter summers and heavier rain.
The paving would be light in colour so it stays cooler in heat, and built so rain can drain through instead of forming puddles.
Some planting would work as a small rain garden to help soak up stormwater during sudden downpours.
Shade can be added over time using small trees or simple canopies attached to the mounting rails.
Plants would be tough, drought resistant species that stay healthy through warmer summers and help keep the air cooler around seating areas.
All of this stays low tech and easy to look after. It means the square will feel comfortable in extreme weather and will keep working well as the climate changes.Why this matters for the futureThese choices do two things.
They improve the square today.
And they prepare it for the future.
The square stays simple, but it can grow with community needs and future climate needs. This sends an important message: the council expects good things to keep happening here, so it is designing the space to support that long term.What people would notice
A clean, cared for space.
Children and teenagers playing where adults can see them.
Parents and carers sitting comfortably.
Older residents resting safely.
Small stalls and local art appearing in ways that look tidy, not improvised.
Imagine walking past on a future Saturday: a neighbour prints a small sign in the Workshop, places it on a stall under a tidy gazebo, and people sit under warm lights chatting. Scenes like this help replace old memories of trouble with new memories of normal, positive life.4.2 Brandon Urban Workshop: making, repair and modern toolsInside the new library we propose a small Urban Workshop.It would include:
sewing machines and basic tools,
a badge maker and laminator,
small 3D printers,
and a vinyl cutter and heat press for making T shirts, bags and patches.
Residents could use the equipment for free, only paying for materials. Staff would run bookable sessions such as sewing and repair, T shirt design and beginner 3D printing.For many young people, seeing modern tools in their own library is a strong message. It tells them: “you belong here and your future matters”. It shows that the area the live is not being left behind and that modern skills are for everyone.The tools are simple to look after and easy to replace. The Workshop stays useful even as interests change.4.3 Brandon Square Sessions: simple Saturday activityEvery Saturday from around 10.30 to 13.00, the square would have light activity.
The library would be open with staff at the door.
Hot drinks could be taken outside.
Games tables would be watched part of the time.
A small Brandon Lab table would offer a simple making or learning activity. Once a month there could be a slightly bigger activity.
Families would know something is happening. Older residents could meet neighbours. Teenagers would have a visible, positive place to be.
The square’s flexible design means new groups can lead their own small events later on, without extra building work; this helps the space grow with the community.
5. How this meets what residents asked forThis proposal answers the long standing requests for:
better paving, drainage, planting and seating;
a welcoming pedestrian space;
small stalls and weekend activity;
art, colour and better entrances.
Residents gain:
a safer, better lit and more welcoming square,
a space used by all ages,
a library that supports making as well as reading,
and a clear shift from “derelict” to “the square by the library.”
6. Equality, safety and inclusion
The square will be open to view from homes and the library.
Trusted adults will be around at predictable times.
Clear rules will help everyone feel safe.
Cleaner, repaired surfaces reduce misuse.
Seating will work for older people, wheelchair users and families.
Activities will suit different ages.
The Workshop and Sessions will stay low cost.
This supports fairness and helps reduce the feeling that Maddock Way is ignored.7. How we can measure successAfter one year we can ask:
Are more people choosing to sit and stay in the square?
Do all age groups feel comfortable here?
Does the area look cleaner and cared for?
Have safety concerns improved?
Is the Workshop used often?
Do nearby shops notice positive footfall?
If not, we can adjust. If yes, the square is doing its job.8. What we are asking Southwark Council to doWe ask the council to:
modernise the space outside the library,
fund and deliver new paving, planting, seating, lighting and repairs,
support the Urban Workshop and Saturday Sessions with a small equipment budget and staff time,
and work with residents on a review after one year.
The estate has already started to change. The new library, the renewed youth centre and the work of residents show this clearly. Brandon Square and the Urban Workshop make this change visible every day.By investing now, the council can send a clear message:
this progress is real,
the estate is worth caring for,
and young people growing up here have a future in a place that is moving forward and ready for tomorrow.
